We round up the latest Liverpool news and transfer rumours on Tuesday, as the Reds prepare to face Sporting CP in New York.
Today’s Main Headlines
- Respected journalist claims Liverpool want to make “first-team signing”
Another new signing at last?
- Robertson’s approach is symptomatic of life at Liverpool
What a signing the Scot has been.
- $2 billion valuation shows scale of Liverpool’s improvement
The club is in its healthiest position in many years.
- Liverpool ‘seeking clarification from FIFA’ over Club World Cup
Still no firm plan in place.
- Gomez using Brewster as “prime example”
The defender is aiming to return to top form.
Mignolet Linked with Blades Move
A ‘will he, won’t he’ soap opera has followed Simon Mignolet around all summer – not an entertaining soap opera, let’s be honest! – with the Belgian’s Liverpool future unclear.
Although he now looks likely to remain a Reds player for the time being, there is no guarantee that he will stay just yet.
According to Shropshire Live, Sheffield United are lining up a swoop for the goalkeeper, in order to alleviate a potential issue between the sticks.
The Blades are hoping to tie down Man United ‘keeper Dean Henderson for another year, following a superb season from the youngster in the Championship, but Mignolet is seen as an alternative.
The 31-year-old wanted to leave last summer and his agent has indicated as such again this year. Crystal Palace have also been linked with interest.
Ejaria “Close” to Reading Move
Reading are closing in on the loan signing of Ovie Ejaria, according to the Reading Chronicle.
The midfielder impressed at the Championship club last season, having suffered a disappointing spell at Steven Gerrard‘s Rangers prior to that.
Ejaria has no future at Liverpool, especially in the short-term, so moving him on once again is a no-brainer for all parties.
The Reds are believed to be in “advanced talks” with Reading and it appears to be a matter of time before the move is confirmed.
Such is the midfield quality at Jurgen Klopp‘s disposal currently, there was never a chance that Ejaria could force his way into the first team squad.
Gomez on “Belief” Champions League Win Has Created
Joe Gomez will be hoping for an injury-free season, having seen his last two campaigns hampered by fitness issues.
In an interview with Goal‘s Neil Jones, the 22-year-old has spoken about the belief winning the Champions League has instilled in Liverpool’s players, with more trophies now feeling more attainable:
“There’s a belief within the side now. Now we’ve actually won something, we feel like ‘we can do this’. We really feel it.
“There’s a fighting spirit within us that has enabled us to come back in games, grind out wins, and that’s given us huge belief.
“Probably a lot of fans want to see money spent and big names coming in, but when you look at our team, everyone is committed. Look at the amount of contracts that have been signed in the last 12 months, look at the age of the team.
“We’re here to stay.”
Gomez is a player of enormous potential, and if he can find the form that he showed early last season, Liverpool will be even stronger than they were after Christmas.
That’s no slight on Joel Matip, who found an excellent level, but Gomez remains the superior player.
Sepp Still Awaiting Clearance
Sepp van den Berg remains Liverpool’s only signing of the summer, but he is still yet to make his Reds debut during pre-season.
That’s due to the young Dutchman awaiting international clearance, with the Evening Standard‘s David Lynch confirming that the club are waiting to hear if he will be available to face Sporting CP on Thursday morning (Wednesday night in New York).
Liverpool officials have reportedly “been in constant contact with both the FA and FIFA” in order to sort the issue, to no avail.
Seventeen-year-old Van den Berg signed from PEC Zwolle last month, as both a long and short-term acquisition.
Karius Reveals English Offers
Loris Karius has been enjoying a career resurrection at Besiktas, following the disastrous end of his spell with Liverpool.
Although the goalkeeper is only on loan in Turkey, it would be a huge surprise if he ever represented the Reds again.
Speaking to Sporx, Karius has revealed that he has ‘turned down’ two Premier League clubs want this summer and remains happy at Besiktas:
“This season, through my agent, two clubs in the UK, three clubs from Germany, made offers.
“I turned them [all] down. Besiktas is very special for me.”
Pull the other one, Loris!
Ince Makes Nonsensical Bale Claim
Listening to Paul Ince’s opinion is never to be recommended, even though he enjoyed an excellent career that included a spell at Liverpool in the 1990s.
The former midfielder bizarrely believes Gareth Bale would be the “perfect fit” for the Reds, with the Welshman set to leave Real Madrid:
“Liverpool’s front three haven’t had much rest before the season – Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have played all over the summer,” Ince told BBC Five Live.
“Bale can play right, left or central. If I was looking at a team if they could afford him, it would be Liverpool. He needs to re-invent himself as a player and play football week in, week out.
“He would have to take a massive wage drop. It can’t be about money for Bale. He has to go to a team who can win things. Liverpool are European champions and they want to make a massive challenge in the league again.
“I would like to see him at Liverpool. He still has four or five years left. I think he’d be a perfect fit.”
While he has a fair point about the front three playing so much football, signing a 30-year-old injury-prone player on extortionate wages, isn’t the solution!
There’s more chance of David N’Gog returning as Roberto Firmino‘s deputy than Bale heading to Anfield in the coming weeks!
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