Reds considering cut-price Kabak deal & fans to return to the Kop – Liverpool FC Roundup

Liverpool news today circulates around the reaction to our Champions League progression, transfer talk and an eye on the future.

 

Fans back on the Kop against Wolves

Having originally stated that the Main Stand would be the only one in operation for the return of supporters, Liverpool have now changed their mind.

Three-quarters of the 2,000 tickets are general admission and those will be spread between the Kop and Main Stand, subject to social distancing measures of course.

The full details on the ticket arrangements can be found here.

It will be a massive 271 days since the last time fans were on the Kop – hopefully this is the first significant step to getting back towards a full capacity crowd as soon as possible.

 

Kabak incoming?

Ozan Kabak of FC Schalke 04 reacts during the 1. Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Schalke 04 at the Volkswagen Arena on December 18, 2019 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Peter Niedung/NurPhoto)

SportBild say the Reds are now seriously considering sinking money into the deal to get Ozan Kabak in during January.

The end of the year is fast approaching and with it comes the opening of the transfer window again – and the Reds might well strengthen the back line.

Kabak is one of the defenders most-frequently linked with an Anfield switch and the quoted price has come down from near €40 million in summer to €25m now – and there’s a suggestion Schalke will do business even lower.

They are in a horrid predicament, with empty bank accounts, embarrassing results and abysmal form again this season and Kabak himself isn’t exempt from that bad run.

But a change of scenery might do the trick – along with better coaching and team-mates, obviously – and the decision of whether to sign him or look elsewhere looks certain to be made in the coming weeks.

 

Those kids

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, December 1, 2020: Liverpool's goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher (R) celebrates with Curtis Jones after the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Liverpool FC and AFC Ajax at Anfield. Liverpool wo 1-0 and qualified for the Round of 16. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

After a night when two Academy youngsters took the headlines it’s only right we cast an eye to the future…

 

Quickfire LFC news

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 22, 2020: Liverpool’s Fabio Henrique Tavares 'Fabinho' during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Leicester City 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)

  • Fabinho says he’s working well with Joel Matip in defence and aims to help wherever needed (SW)
  • Tyson Fury has asked to be taken out of the running for the Sports Personality of the Year award, where he’s up against Jordan Henderson (Twitter)
  • Gini Wijnaldum says he’s “blessed to stay fit” and that it’s just “matches and resting” right now after his long run as one of the Reds’ only fit midfielders (FCupdate)
  • And the Reds could be part of a Champions League group stage overhaul from 2024, with a much bigger ‘division’ leading on to knock-outs (TIA)

 

Around the Prem

CARDIFF, WALES - Monday, November 18, 2019: Hungary's Dominik Szoboszlai during a training session at the Cardiff City Stadium ahead of the final UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying Group E match between Wales and Hungary. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

  • Transfer restrictions have been confirmed for signing players post-Brexit and there are big changes for youth signings (TIA)
  • Mikel Arteta wants temporary concussion subs brought in as the case for protecting against head injuries continues to dominate headlines (BBC)
  • Spurs and Arsenal are among a massive group of clubs hoping to sign Salzburg midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, which will make it even more fun when he rocks up at Anfield instead (Eurosport)
  • And Arsenal want Emi Buendia in January too, as the answer to their creativity woes. Thought Arteta had fixed them last year?! (football.london)

 

Stupid rumour of the day

Barcelona have come to the decision that Shkodran Mustafi or Antonio Rudiger, neither of whom get in the team at their current clubs, are the answers to their many, many, many, many problems in defence.

Oh, and they’re also not going to sign anyone until after the presidential elections, which will give them about five days in January to wrap up any potential deals.

Good, solid planning from the biggest shambles of a club in Europe in 2020, which is saying something.

 

Tweet of the day

What could have been, hey?

 

Worth watching tonight

Can Man United hold their nerve and take a point from their last two games, part 1: a nine-man defence against Neymar and Mbappe. 8pm on BT Sport.

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