Tag: liverpool updates

New Premier League club enter race for Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen

Liverpool are interested in a move for Bournemouth’s star defender Dean Huijsen, talkSPORT understands.

The 19-year-old centre back has shone on the south coast this season and just had his first Spain call-up after spending his youth career with the Netherlands.

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Huijsen has quickly become one of the most wanted defenders on the planetCredit: Getty

Linked to numerous European giants, the former Juventus and Roma defender has been put at the top of Real Madrid’s summer wishlist, according to MARCA.

Huijsen responded to the news by saying he was ‘flattered’ by links to Los Blancos who are understood to also have interest in Arsenal’s William Saliba.

However, Liverpool may well need Huijsen more and have more game time to offer, given that captain and key defender Virgil van Dijk is approaching free agent status with a new contract nowhere to be seen.

Amsterdam-born Huijsen has a £50million release clause, and Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes previously worked with the Cherries.

Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez is also on the Reds’ radar, having shone this season while Andy Robertson has struggled on Merseyside.

Hughes will have signed the Hungarian left back at Bournemouth, but not the Spanish defender.

The Cherries are well on course for their best ever season, and look set for a debut European campaign in 2025/26, with a Champions League berth still on the cards.

Andoni Iraola’s side have conceded the fifth fewest goals in the league, with their defence standing out.

Discussing Huijsen, the Basque coach said: “I didn’t know about his mentality because when you sign someone that is 19, you see, okay, it looks like he’s going to be a good player.

“But you are not sure if he’s ready to perform straight away against the best opposition. That is what he’s facing in the Premier League.

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Van Dijk’s contract expires this summer and Konate’s in 2026, meaning a new centre-back may become a priorityCredit: AFP

“And he showed since the first day, I think he started playing the season against Forest. He played really well.

On his best attributes, Iraola said: “I think his mentality, his head.

“I think he’s confident. He is not afraid of marking any forward and I think he’s calm on the ball.

“He knows what he’s doing, he’s under control. Sometimes he will make mistakes like all the others, but there is always a reason for the things he does.

“And for someone that is 19, it’s really strange to find this at this level.”

Despite being on course for just their second league title in 35 years, Liverpool look set for a rebuild in the summer.

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Huijsen’s all-round game as a teenager has been exceptional

The club restructured their management and scouting department in the summer following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, and signed just one player in £14m Federico Chiesa from Juventus.

Speaking to the BBC in January, new head coach Arne Slot said: “I do know that in the background we are definitely working on strengthening the squad in the summer.

“That would mean, in my opinion, that we will be able to challenge for every trophy we play for.”

Van Dijk isn’t the only player whose contract is expiring in the summer, with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also approaching departures, the latter to Madrid.

Next summer Ibrahima Konate and Robertson also have contracts expiring, and fill the positions that Huijsen and Kerkez do at Bournemouth.

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March 20, 2025
‘Too good’ – Richards pinpoints moment he knew Mo Salah would become a superstar

Micah Richards – talent scout?

The ex-Manchester City defender is adamant he knew how good Mohamed Salah was going to be before all of us.

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Salah’s heroics against City were another exclamation mark on an astonishing season

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Salah is in a league of his own this season, as are LiverpoolCredit: AFP

Salah added yet another goal and assist for Liverpool in a comfortable 2-0 win over Manchester City to put the Reds 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Two more goal involvements make it 41 for the season (25 goals, 16 assists) and Salah is now just six more from the best-ever Premier League campaign.

Now widely considered an all-time great of English football, such a rise never looked possible during a failed 18-game stint at Chelsea from 2013 to 2014.

However, shortly after that, on loan at Fiorentina, then teammate Richards could tell how good the Egyptian kind was.

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“We knew he was special though, even at Basel, when he went to Fiorentina, then at Roma,” Richards said after the match.

“It obviously didn’t work for him at Chelsea but when he came to the Premier League with Liverpool I just knew.”

With his fellow pundits showing some scepticism, Richards continued: “Honestly, there’s an interview where I say this player is too good for Fiorentina, we shouldn’t have him.

“He came there on loan and I just knew how special he was. His touch, his technique, how selfish he was in front of goal.

“We went to Juventus in the Coppa Italia and he ran for 40 or 50 yards against some of the best defenders in the league at the time, I just knew he was special.”

Salah is the current favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or with Liverpool not just top in England, but they were the best team in the league phase of the Champions League, and have a Carabao Cup final date against Newcastle next month.

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Richards knew we were witnessing greatness back at Fiorentina

Comparing Salah to other greats on the list of best-ever seasons, Manchester United legend Roy Keane explained what Salah’s got that the likes of Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez and Didier Drogba also had.

“They’re all strikers, but we still class Salah as a winger,” he began. “I think if you’re going to be successful at any big club you do need that one world class player.

“You can have brilliant players around you, but whether it’s [Eric] Cantona, [Wayne] Rooney, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, you need that one player who’s almost ahead of everyone else to get you over the line and make the difference in tight games and Salah does that week-in, week-out.”

Jamie Carragher also gave his view, adding: “This is going to end up being the greatest season we’ve ever seen from an individual, I have no doubt about that.

“It’s not whether he finishes above those players numbers, it’s how far, and if he sets the bar so high that in the future nobody can get there again.

“We are seeing something special, this is an all-time season.”

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Salah’s on the verge of equalling his incredible first season at Liverpool where he scored at will

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Is that the title race done?

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February 23, 2025
Simon Jordan reluctant to see David Coote gone despite ‘terrible judgment call’

Referee David Coote is now the talk of the Premier League, and former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has had his say.

Coote made headlines worldwide when a video emerged online appearing to show him making derogatory comments about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp.

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David Coote is under investigation after calling Jurgen Klopp a c***Credit: Getty

The official, who oversaw the Reds 2-0 win over Aston Villa last time out, called the coach a ‘German c***’ and Liverpool ‘s***’.

Coote has since been suspended from his post while refereeing body the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have launched an investigation.

Much of the talk revolves around whether Coote can officiate Liverpool games again, or even operate in the Premier League, with former Anfield great Danny Murphy saying he thinks the 42-year-old is ‘finished’ in the top flight.

Giving his thoughts on the matter, fellow talkSPORT host Jordan said: “This is what he’s invited upon himself. So he has to reap the particular whirlwind that he started spinning because he’s the one that opened his mouth and made a terrible judgement call.

“This isn’t an allegation. We’ve seen the video. Unless AI is involved, this is coming out of his mouth and this is what he said.

“Now, it’ll be interesting to see how he can find his way through this because the inherent responsibility will have to be on him.

“Howard Webb [PGMOL head] didn’t invite this. Howard Webb doesn’t want this. He wants a refereeing fraternity that is beyond reproach. So he wants them to be in a situation where the noise is dialled down and he’s trying to establish this. And out of the ether comes one of his elite referees making childish, immature, unprofessional observations.

“Can he redeem himself? Can he find his way back? Should he be dropped into the EFL? And people say, well, if you get punished in the Premier League, is it any less valuable in the EFL? You get the castles from the Premier League? I don’t know. But should a man lose his career over some stupid observations? I’m reluctant to suggest that should be the case.”

Liverpool as a club are yet to respond to the video, and Jordan thinks they may be best to stay put given what’s happened.

Asked how he would have responded as Palace’s chairman, he said: “My reaction to it now would be to believe that I would be objective and go, let the PGMOL deal with it. That’s their job, that’s their problem, they’ve created this situation, get on with doing your jobs. I’ve got a football club to run.

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Coote was last in action at Anfield over the weekend but his future could now be in doubtCredit: Getty

“But I also know how tribal you are when you’re indexed and inside the bubble and so you can’t help but feel that the evidence that you’ve heard and seen about decisions that you were party to as the owner of the football club and watched and you thought, well that’s a bit strong, that’s not right.

“You will be sucked into that narrative and ultimately feel a certain way about it. Look, I’d like to think I’d be objective and let the course of action unfold around this rather foolish fellow’s observations.”

PGMOL head Webb is now in a difficult position, having taken a very public approach to his job as refereeing head.

The former official hosts a show with Michael Owen where he discusses refereeing incidents, while he’s also known to travel to clubs and publicly apologise for botched calls.

When asked if he would call Webb to discuss the story, Jordan responded: “I don’t think I would, I don’t know what I’d achieve by doing it.

“If I’m playing to the gallery, if I’m going to do an interview with the local press in Liverpool, telling them how offended I am on behalf of them.

“Or I look at it and go, you’re a bloody fool, you’ve said stupid things and you’re going to reap the whirlwind of it.

“No doubt people are not going to stop until you’ve been forced to leave refereeing and your vocation and disappear into a third world country and referee over there perhaps, because people might forgive you there.

“But the point is that I look at it and say, what would be the point of discussing it? Besides, what am I going to do with it?

“Am I going to pick up the phone to Howard and say, I think that’s unacceptable? Howard doesn’t need to be told what’s come out of that guy’s mouth is unacceptable.”

Video emerges appearing to show Premier League referee David Coote making foul-mouthed comments about Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp

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November 12, 2024
Ex-Chelsea star thinks Salah is set to quit Liverpool – but fans shouldn’t worry

Mohamed Salah might be at the top of his game with Liverpool but he could still leave Anfield in the summer.

That’s according to former Chelsea star Tony Cascarino, who expects Saudi Pro League executives to make another move for the Egyptian.

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Salah will have a year left on his contract this summer and could be tempted by a moveCredit: Getty

Salah was the subject of a £150million offer from Al Ittihad last summer, with the SPL conducting a transfer window of epic proportions.

The move didn’t materialise, though, and in January their spending was cut back.

That could all change this time around according to Cascarino, who is a Liverpool fan and sees the 31-year-old’s contract situation as a hint to the future.

“He’s been phenomenal, his goal record is extraordinary and his attitude as a player, the fans adore him,” he began.

“But I wouldn’t be surprised if he left this year, the fact he signed a two-year contract and there’s a year to go.

“I could imagine him being there as the flagship for Saudi football, there’s every chance that could happen.”

Despite the potential loss of their all-time top European goalscorer, former Chelsea and Aston Villa striker Cascarino doesn’t think there’s any need to worry.

“But Liverpool fans will be confident they can find a replacement,” he added.

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Cascarino thinks Elliott is one of the players who could replace SalahCredit: Getty

“I’ve been really impressed with the way Harvey Elliott has played this year, he’s not to Salah’s level in terms of goals and numbers, but he’s played really well when he’s been called upon.

“Their recruitment has been exceptional and I’m sure they’ll be able to find someone to replace Salah when he goes.

“I’ve said all along, you never want to keep players who think their future is elsewhere. I’m not saying that’s the situation for Salah yet, but if he does, thank you very much for what you’ve done for Liverpool and we move on.”

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March 24, 2024
Alexander-Arnold admits he watches ‘exceptional’ Man City star for inspiration

Liverpool and Manchester City may be staging somewhat of a modern day rivalry, but that hasn’t stopped Trent Alexander-Arnold heaping praise on an opponent.

The Reds and the Sky Blues have contested three of the past five Premier League titles and gone head-to-head in the cups too, increasing animosity in the northwest.

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Alexander-Arnold is happy to look far and wide for inspirationCredit: Getty

In the league, City have twice pipped Liverpool to the title by a single point, but that annoyance hasn’t stopped Alexander-Arnold learning from their games.

The Scouse right-back has long been one of the games best playmakers, even from defence, but his role has changed recently, seeing him move more into midfield.

For England he now plays solely in the middle of the park, but at his club, the new ‘hybrid’ position has been inspired by one of his City rivals.

Speaking to the media ahead of England’s final Euro 2024 qualifiers, Alexander-Arnold said: “I think as someone who plays the inverted, hybrid role – I don’t know what people call it these days – then it is obviously John Stones.

“For a long time, I have admired his game. He is exceptional, so I watch him a lot; clips or even when I am just watching [Manchester] City’s games, I will sit and focus on him.”

Alexander-Arnold also discussed his other midfield inspirations, with his game increasingly coming higher up the pitch.

“I do admire the way Rodri plays,” he continued. “He is pivotal in that team and massively underrated but, like we have seen recently, when you take him out of the team, they are not the same. That just shows how important he is.

“I will watch players from the past as well – [Sergio] Busquets, [Xabi] Alonso, Pirlo, Stevie G [Gerrard].”

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Alexander-Arnold loves what Stones is doingCredit: Getty

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November 13, 2023
Ryan Gravenberch explains why he cracked up during viral clip of Klopp rubbing his chin

Ryan Gravenberch has explained why he couldn’t contain his laughter when Jurgen Klopp was seen rubbing his chin.

The Liverpool midfielder, who joined this summer in a £34.2million move from Bayern Munich, has already won over fans with his silky play in the middle of the park.

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Klopp is loving Gravenberch and particularly his chinCredit: Getty

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Gravenberch cracked up remembering the momentCredit: Sky Sports

With two goals and an assist in seven games, the Dutchman is showcasing his talent, but mainly from the bench as he learns to settle in.

One of his cameos came during a 3-1 win over West Ham where he played the final 13 minutes and Klopp was seen giving his latest signing a pep talk.

The German coach is often seen showing his players love on the touchline with a hug, but he then grabbed Gravenberch’s perfectly crafted goatee.

The 21-year-old was seen cracking up moments later, and has now explained why.

Speaking to Sky Sports about the clip, he said: “I saw it went viral!

“He did it but Curtis [Jones] came to the side and I was laughing to Curtis.

“If you saw the video he did this [gestures rubbing his chin] and then I laughed about that but I was laughing to Curtis, that’s why.”

Gravenberch only lasted a single season at Bayern after his highly-anticipated move from Ajax, and it looks like Liverpool may have pulled off a coup for a player who had his path in Munich blocked.

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Klopp grabbed the midfielder’s chinCredit: PLP

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He could only laughCredit: PLP

Klopp worked hard to sign the midfielder, only getting a deal over the line on deadline day, but Gravenberch was already keen to join the Champions League and Premier League-winning manager.

“I spoke with the coach and he gave me a good feeling,” the youngster explained.

“He said to me ‘I want you’ and he gave me his plans and explained everything and gave me such a good feeling that my decision was such a fast one.”

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October 13, 2023
Liverpool handed early kick-off against Man City as police ban 5.30pm clash

Jurgen Klopp might be set for another awkward interview after learning about Liverpool’s latest early kick-off.

The Reds face Manchester City on November 25 at the Etihad in one of the Premier League’s most anticipated fixtures.

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Klopp won’t be happy with Liverpool’s rescheduled kick-off time vs CityCredit: getty

Originally scheduled for 3pm, the game was always guaranteed to be moved to a television slot due to the scale of the fixture.

However, Klopp will be livid to learn it’s been moved to the 12:30pm block on the calendar, the earliest kick-off of the weekend, unless there is a Friday night game.

It had been thought that it would take place at 5.30pm, but a local safety advisory group has veteod the timing.

That is due to several fan issues between the two clubs in the past, with Arsenal’s trip to Brentford to now take place at that time instead.

To make matters worse, it comes after an international break in the fixtures, meaning Klopp’s players will be arriving back to training late from all over the globe before having to adjust for Saturday morning.

As evidence to why the scheduling has bothered him so much in the past, Klopp’s Liverpool have a dire record in the 12:30pm Saturday spot, at least by their standards.

Klopp won four and lost three of the games during the 2015/16 season, and things got worse in the following campaign.

In 2017/18 Liverpool won just one of eight early Saturday kick-offs, and the 2021/22 campaign was the only anomaly where the Reds won all four of their early starts, but things were again terrible last term.

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Klopp and Guardiola have enjoyed many famous battles against each other in the pastCredit: AFP

On top of his side’s appalling record in the fixtures, the volume of them will also provoke his ire, with the upcoming City game being the 14th directly after an international break since the German took over in 2015.

That’s a whopping eight more than any other side, and Klopp explained the problem earlier this summer.

He said: “It’s not a problem if you have a week [to prepare]. The problem is the lack of recovery time.

“We have four international breaks until March. Two of them we have 12.30 kick offs. This is a joke. We had players in South America!

“The TV channel has a different name [TNT Sports, FKA BT Sport] but nothing changes at all, they don’t give a…. about it.”

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October 13, 2023
Liverpool can replace Salah, says ex-Red, who suggests another Italian shopping trip

Liverpool fans were left with an anxious few weeks in September when the Saudi Pro League was chasing Mohamed Salah.

However, according to one of their former players, losing the star forward won’t be the end of the world.

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Salah was a wanted man at the end of the transfer windowCredit: Getty

Now 31, but legitimately one of the Reds greatest-ever players, there was little argument to sell the Egyptian with no time to replace him this summer, but that could well change.

With a reported £150million rejected from Al Ittihad, there were understandably doubts whether Jurgen Klopp could survive without arguably the most important player of his career.

Former Red Stephen Warnock, is convinced he can, telling talkSPORT as much on Monday.

“Everyone’s replaceable,” he began. “I’ve said it about [Luis] Suarez, I’ve said it about [Philippe] Coutinho, and he [Salah] will be replaceable in time.

“I think the big problem is with Salah if you get a £175million offer from Saudi Arabia that’s difficult to say no to.

“I wouldn’t sell him in January but maybe next season, but only if you’ve got someone else lined up.”

Who could that be? Well, Warnock has again been looking to Serie A, where Liverpool had so much success bringing Salah over from Roma in 2016.

“You’d have to have someone exciting lined up, the one player that springs to mind is [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia,” he said.

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Kvaratskhelia was unstoppable last season as he helped Napoli to Serie A gloryCredit: AFP

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His brilliance has seen him get dubbed Kvara-dona after the football icon Diego MaradonaCredit: Getty

“He’s the one player you look at where you think he’s young and has potential and can play, but he’s a left-sided player, could he play on the right?

“Dominik Szoboszlai, that’s where he played at RB Leipzig, will he play further up if Salah goes?

“The scouting network will be out now knowing Salah’s getting to that point, but the big thing for Liverpool too is the commercial aspect.

“He gets bums on seats and you walk around Anfield seeing all the scarves and shirts from Egypt and Africa, and the number shirts he sells everywhere around the world is phenomenal.”

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October 9, 2023
Liverpool fans love Nunez’s defiant reaction to Spurs defeat but get worrying Gakpo update

Liverpool were dealt even more bad news after their controversial 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.

The Reds were losers for the first time in 19 games, dating back to last season, and things could have been very different.

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Gakpo was in pain as soon as his shot hit the netCredit: Getty

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He hit the deck and then sat out the second halfCredit: Getty

Finishing the game with nine men after two red cards that caused much debate, the PGMOL later apologised for human error which led to Luis Diaz’s opener incorrectly being called offside.

Their scorer on the day, Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, was again a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing match, but signs from after the game weren’t positive.

Gakpo hit the ground after his first half equaliser, and then hobbled towards the touchline before failing to emerge for the second period.

And post-match Reds fans got the update they were hoping to avoid, with reporters present at the game saying the former PSV man had been put in a knee brace.

Manager Jurgen Klopp then revealed the gravity of the situation, saying: “The biggest problem of the game, to be honest… before Cody Gakpo scored, we got a free-kick and he got injured and he is now with a brace limping down the corridor.

“That’s my biggest problem, to be honest, in this moment. We lost two [to red cards] and maybe a third player – really bad, really bad. So, yes, that’s something we have to deal with obviously.”

With three goals already this season, Gakpo has picked up where he left off last campaign, but he could now be set for a spell on the sidelines.

Replacing him in the line up would likely be striker Darwin Nunez, who showed how much he wants to star for Liverpool this season.

An unused substitute in the match after picking up a knock in training, Nunez made his way over to the away end at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium post-match.

Thumping the liver bird on his chest and gesturing at the fans, he received huge cheers from the travelling support, who will be boosted by the positive mentality after a tough defeat.

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Nunez was pumping his chest at the crowdCredit: @asim_lfc

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He showed the kind of passion that will give supporters confidence for upcoming gamesCredit: @asim_lfc

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September 30, 2023
Liverpool get their man and agree £34m deal with Bayern Munich for Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool have agreed a £34million fee to sign Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, talkSPORT understands.

The Dutch midfielder is expected to put pen to paper on a five-year deal at Anfield before the transfer window closes on Friday.

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Bayern have agreed a fee for Gravenberch with LiverpoolCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Gravenberch had already agreed terms with the Reds and was keen on the move after failing to settle in Munich.

The 21-year-old joined the Bundesliga giants from Ajax last summer in a £16m deal to much fanfare, but started only six matches, with his other 28 appearances coming from the bench.

That is unlikely to be the case at Liverpool, though, with Jurgen Klopp constructing an extensive midfield overhaul during the summer transfer window.

Stalwarts Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and James Milner all departed, with Alexis Mac Allister arriving from Brighton, Dominik Szoboszlai from Leipzig, and Wataru Endo from Stuttgart.

Endo is now the team’s only specialised defensive midfielder, but Gravenberch can also fill the role, though he is more adapt at playing an attacking role in the middle of the pitch.

Gravenberch will become Liverpool’s fourth signing of the season, with all four arrivals coming in midfield.

The deal could spell bad news for Fulham, though, with Bayern hotly pursuing their star defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha.

talkSPORT understands that Fulham have asked for £80m for the Portuguese international before the close of the window, amid an approach from the German side.

Fulham have identified PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare and Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana as potential targets if Palhinha does leave the club.

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August 31, 2023