Reds ‘closing in’ on centre-back & want relegated winger – Liverpool FC Roundup

Liverpool have made inroads towards their first two signings of the summer according to Tuesday’s reports, while Jurgen Klopp has a new sponsorship deal.

 

Betis defender as Lovren replacement?

The rumours linking the Reds to Aissa Mandi aren’t going away – rather the opposite in fact.

Liverpool are reported to have already tabled a £9 million bid for the Real Betis centre-back, who would certainly come in as fourth-choice if the move goes through.

At present, though, the Reds are just shy of a couple of million below what his current club are asking, meaning they want the Reds to shell out pretty much the entirety of the fee Liverpool received for Dejan Lovren.

If he does join Liverpool, the 28-year-old is a potential participant at the Africa Cup of Nations, along with Naby, Mane and Mo.

 

Sarr in our sights

WATFORD, ENGLAND - Saturday, February 29, 2020: Watford's Ismaïla Sarr celebrates scoring the second goal during the FA Premier League match between Watford FC and Liverpool FC at Vicarage Road. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool want more than just a centre-back though, if rumours are to be believed.

This one comes from a local outlet, which sometimes offer a little more truth to the matter than the regionals—and the Watford Observer say the Reds are one of three sides to have registered initial interest in winger Ismaila Sarr.

If you have trouble remembering who that is, it’s probably because you’ve attempted to block the day out of your memory—it was Sarr who terrorised the Reds’ defence to inflict a first league defeat of the season on Klopp’s team earlier in 2020.

Crystal Palace and Wolves are the other teams in the hunt for Sarr, but neither will make a move unless they sell Wilf Zaha and Adama Traore respectively.

Liverpool, it seems, merely want to add him to the current group – but there’s no bid yet.

 

Managers and makers

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, July 22, 2020: Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jurgen Klopp is one of a kind, or two of a kind when it comes to Premier League managers with a kit deal.

 

Quickfire LFC news

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, July 22, 2020: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring the fourth goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. The game was played behind closed doors due to the UK government’s social distancing laws during the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • A Brazil coach explains how a Firmino performance left him ‘in love’ (TIA)
  • Fabinho speaks on consistency, the fans and his hopes for the future (LFC)
  • And our former midfielder Adam Lallana explains the similarities between this club and what Brighton are trying to do (BHAFC)

 

Around the Prem

LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, March 3, 2020: Chelsea's Willian Borges da Silva during the FA Cup 5th Round match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • Newcastle are so desperate for their club to not be owned by Mike Ashley, 70,000 have signed a petition for an investigation into the Premier League‘s handling of the takeover – he’s officially a worse human than murderous dictators in their eyes (BBC)
  • Willian is ready to sign a three-year deal with Arsenal and we can’t wait until he realises the difference between playing with Kante and Kovacic behind him, and Xhaka and, erm, nobody apparently (Guardian)
  • United will wait until late in the window before deciding on Jack Grealish, because nothing says “we need you, we want you” like spending three months seeing if there’s anything better out there (Mail)
  • And Chelsea want Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon, which will be a third and far-from-final key target Everton miss out on this summer (Sky Sports)

 

Stupid announcement of the day

Yes, next season is officially set to start in farcical circumstances.

We already knew the Reds would be playing the Community Shield, then losing players to international duty, until two days before the 20/21 campaign begins. That’s dumb enough.

But now the Premier League sides who are still in Europe until the latter rounds this season will delay their 20/21 start date. And there’s no confirmation yet on when that will start. Or if those clubs with a delayed start will still have to send their players on international duty.

What fun!

 

Tweet of the day

Not Liverpool-related right now, but it could be: the rulings around travel restrictions, coronavirus and European ties for next season.

 

What we’re reading

Technically, we’re watching these today: all of Rhian Brewster‘s goals for Swansea in one video here. Some belters!

And a compilation of the best bits of Sadio Mane‘s season. Click here if you can’t see the video below.

 

Worth watching tonight

Play-off final! Will Liverpool be facing Fulham or Brentford next season? Find out at 7:45 pm.

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