4 Reds blocked from call-ups as duo depart Anfield – Liverpool FC Roundup

August 23, 2021
This Is Anfield

Liverpool have one game left before both the transfer window shuts and the international break starts – so this is the beginning of a busy week!

Shaqiri sold and Woodburn exits on loan

Two attackers will no longer be part of Jurgen Klopp‘s squad this season – or at all, for one of them.

Xherdan Shaqiri has completed his move to Ligue 1 side Lyon, a deal worth around £9.5m to the Reds seeing him join the likes of Wijnaldum, Grujic and Wilson in leaving permanently this summer, pushing the income from transfers the Reds have received above the £40m mark.

In another attacking exit, Ben Woodburn has completed his loan move north of the border.

The versatile 21-year-old shone in pre-season but really needs some senior action in a positive loan deal this time and he’s off to Hearts for the campaign.

Salah call-up blocked and Brazilian trio to follow

International breaks aren’t just an irritation because of the travel, timings and fact national teams are regularly set to play three matches again.

Now we’ve also got Covid restrictions to worry about once more, with England still having plenty of nations on the red list – meaning individuals must quarantine when they return from them, including sportspeople.

Mohamed Salah‘s call-up for Egypt, therefore, has reportedly been blocked by the Reds as the nation is indeed still on the red list, though there are mixed views on whether he can play one of the games in Gabon.

By the same token, Liverpool’s three Brazilians – Fab, Ali and Bob – are likely to face a call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Argentina, Peru and Chile, but all four of those countries remain on England’s red list. Expect further developments and negotiations during the course of the week.

Latest Liverpool FC news

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One youngster who impressed in pre-season has already been pencilled in to get game time for the senior side this season in the domestic cups

Latest transfer chat elsewhere

Adama Traore could become a Spurs player this week with Nuno keen on a £40m bid for his former winger

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Granit Xhaka has apparently signed a new Arsenal contract and the owner accidentally confirmed it in the matchday programme. So we can officially assess the off-field organisation at the club to be about as porous as their on-field defence