Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni have been linked with a move toLiverpool.
Liverpool are hoping to sign either Federico Valverde or Aurelien Tchouameni fromReal Madridthis summer, according to ɾєρօɾτs.
The Reds made a brilliant start to the summer transfer window with the additions of Alexis Mac Allister andDominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.
However, the unexpected departures of Jordan HєɴԀerson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia means Jurgen Klopp will now need to bring in at least one more midfielder before the September 1 transfer deadline.
They have certainly been trying but Jamie Carragher recentlycriticised “embarrassing” Liverpool for their “joke” of a transfer windowwith recent failures in the market leaving them in “an absolute mess”.
Chelsea have beaten Liverpool to the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, although the latter is yet to be confirmed officially, with the Reds having bids accepted for both players.
Caicedo always wanted a move to Chelsea but it was Liverpool’s bid for the former Brighton midfielder that ɾєρօɾτedly made Lavia feel like ‘second choice’.
And, with Lavia set to follow Caicedo to Chelsea, Spanish newspaper Nacional claims thatLiverpoolare now hoping either Valverde or Tchouameni can boost their midfield.
Liverpool are now ‘desperate’ to land one of the twoReal Madridmidfielders with Klopp ordering the Reds hierarchy to ‘reactivate interest’ in the pair.
Klopp is said to be ‘in love’ with Valverde with the German having ‘already tried to sign’ him before and the Reds coach now ‘wants to try again’ for the Uruguay international, who is said to be valued at around €130m (£111m) by Real president Florentino Perez.
If not,Liverpoolwill turn their attention to Tchouameni – who Klopp ‘tried to convince’ to move to Anfield before he joined Real from Monaco – despite the France international making it clear he ‘does not want to abandon’ the La Liga outfit.
Neil Jones, who has ɾєρօɾτed onLiverpoolsince 2009, has discussed the possible alternatives to Lavia in his column forCaught Offside.
Jones wrote on Wednesday: “On top of the Caicedo news came another blow forLiverpool, with Romeo Lavia also bound for Chelsea. This, in many ways, will hurt the Reds more. Not because he’s a better player – he most certainly is not – but because this is a Ԁєɑł thatLiverpoolcould and should have had sewn up.
“Lavia has been on their radar for months, and they have had three bids rєjєƈτed earlier this summer. Their reluctance to meet Southampton’s asking price, which has always been £50m, has cost them, as has their dramatic pivot towards Caicedo last week.
“And what this also does is bring Liverpool’s policy of ‘seeking value’ into sharp focus. They didn’t believe Lavia was worth £50m, which is fine. I actually agree. He isn’t.
“But in the єɴԀ, they were willing to pay it because they needed a player, and they were still not able to get him. Now, when they switch their attentions elsewhere, they have only two-and-a-bit weeks to get someone in, and everyone knows they have money to spєɴԀ. How likely are they to find value now?
“And who is out there? We know a few players thatLiverpoollike – Khephren Thuram, Ryan Gravenberch, Manu Kone, Cheick Doucoure. There’s Florentino Luis at Benfica who looks an interesting option.
“I don’t think they’dgo head-to-head with Manchester United for Sofyan Amrabat, while Tyler Adams looks as if he’s off to Bournemouth. Kalvin Phillips? Joao Palhinha? How about Martin ZubimєɴԀi from Real Sociedad, or PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare?
“Right now, there are lots of names in the frame, and a need to move quickly and decisively.Liverpoolshould not be in this position, but they are. Their next move, and how successful it is, could define the rest of their season.
“In terms of outgoings, despite ɾєρօɾτs, I wouldn’t expect Curtis Jones to leaveLiverpoolthis summer.
“They have enough midfield issues as it is, without letting one of their home-grown players leave. Jones had a good єɴԀ to last season, and had a good summer with England at the U21 Euros. He looks like a player who is ready to move up a level in terms of influence and performance levels at Anfield. They won’t be selling him.”
