Neil Jones &#8211; CaughtOffside

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Clearly, finding another Salah is going to be nigh-on impossible, but if we look at Liverpool’s previous transfer dealings, you can see a clear pattern in terms of the type of profile they would look for; 22-25 years old, 150+ top-level games under their belt, versatility in terms of position, experience in European competition and both a proven level of output, but with the room (and the attitude) to develop quickly and significantly under a coach like Klopp.

Who that might be, that’s another matter entirely, but someone like Sane would represent a shift away from that policy in my opinion. I’d be wary of those links.

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Neil Jones column: Liverpool’s three CB transfer targets, PL winger admired, past Jadon Sancho interest & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 16:35:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my latest Liverpool transfer news column exclusively for the Daily Briefing – click here to subscribe for more from myself, Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs and our other columnists!

Luis Diaz incident is like nothing I’ve seen before – but replaying games isn’t an option

It’s fair to say it’s been a testing couple of weeks for Liverpool in terms of the refereeing of their games! I’m not sure I can ever remember an incident like the one we saw at Tottenham with the Luis Diaz ‘goal’, and I think that was shown with the fallout which followed.

It was a quite bizarre, and really quite troubling, episode, and listening to the audio from the VAR room, it is easy to see why Liverpool (and other clubs, by the way) believe significant changes are needed in terms of the way VAR is used in the Premier League.

In a world of VAR, the Diaz incident simply should not be happening. Managers, players and even supporters can accept an assistant referee getting a marginal offside call wrong on the field, but the idea that two extra officials could look at the decision, use technology to prove it incorrect and then, through complacency and poor communication, allow that incorrect decision to be upheld, is just baffling, and worrying in the extreme for the PGMOL. It’s an extreme (and to my mind unprecedented) example, but it makes you wonder how many more cases such as this exist, where an incorrect decision has been allowed to stand because of confusion and unclear communication from the VAR. I’m sure fans of every club could think of an example or two involving their own side, right?

Liverpool were right to be aggrieved after the Tottenham game, and had reason to ask questions of referee Anthony Taylor and VAR Craig Pawson after the draw at Brighton too – how Pascal Gross was not sent off remains a mystery – but I’m not in the camp of believing that replaying games should be an option, even in the event of such clear and obvious mistakes. That box should not be opened.

Rather, the original game at Tottenham should have been stopped, the mistake explained to the managers and captains (and, via the big screen) supporters, and restarted with the correct score-line. If that is what happens in the future, then at least something will have come out of a messy, and completely avoidable situation.

Liverpool have three centre-back targets and it needs to be a priority for 2024

I think it’s clear that centre-back is an area that Liverpool need to look at in 2024. Joel Matip’s contract is expiring and Joe Gomez seems to now be viewed as more of a right-back than a centre-back by Jurgen Klopp. That leaves Virgil van Dijk, who is well into his 30s, the talented-but-fragile Ibrahima Konate and the youngster Jarell Quansah as Liverpool’s longer-term options.

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Quansah has been a real bonus, and looks at 20 to have all the tools to become a decent Premier League centre-back. He’s inexperienced, yes, but his potential is clear.

Both Goncalo Inacio and Piero Hincapie have been looked at by Liverpool, as has Benfica’s Antonio Silva, but any move in January would depend, I think, on two factors. One is whether Liverpool’s current centre-backs are fit (at the moment, they are) and two is whether those players are available and affordable, mid-season. Bayer Leverkusen, Sporting CP and Benfica all have designs on challenging for league titles, remember, so obtaining key players from them in January won’t be easy. Next summer would be more likely, unless circumstances change.

Stefan Bajcetic loan rumours don’t make sense

Stefan Bajcetic’s situation for now is clear; he needs to get back to full fitness and then go from there. He’s suffered a calf issue after making his long-awaited return from an adductor problem, and is going to be sidelined until after the international break.

At 18 (he turns 19 later this month), Liverpool were prepared for such bumps in the road. Bajcetic was promoted swiftly to the first team last season and there was always the risk that the extra intensity, coupled with his own natural physical development, would cause injury and fitness issues. There is no great concern at Kirkby, it is seen as pretty standard for a young, up and coming player.

In terms of a loan, I’d be surprised. Bajcetic is a player who is very highly thought of, and one who has the natural skillset to flourish in this version of Liverpool. He is technically good, has a good defensive instinct and plays with confidence and conviction.

He was given a lot of responsibility in a struggling side last season, and there is a lot of excitement as to what he might be able to bring to a more cohesive outfit going forward. Allowing him to leave on loan in January would not make a great deal of sense in that regard.

The post Neil Jones column: Liverpool’s three CB transfer targets, PL winger admired, past Jadon Sancho interest & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive Neil Jones column: Gravenberch and Andre transfer latest, Liverpool’s Salah stance, and more

Neil Jones — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my weekly exclusive column for CaughtOffside – click here to subscribe for the full, ad-free version and more content from myself, Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Christian Falk and Jonathan Johnson!

Liverpool could be sleepwalking towards HUGE mistake in the transfer market

My personal opinion is that if Liverpool do not make at least one more signing before the end of the window, then it would be a huge mistake on the club’s part. But with just a few days remaining, that possibility is certainly growing.

The word from within the club is that they are very much ‘open to opportunities’, which means if the right player is available at the right price, they will make a move. But as we’ve seen previously, Liverpool’s definition of ‘the right player’, or more specifically ‘the right price’, can be pretty narrow!

There are lots of stories surrounding Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich, and were he to become available late in the window (there is a good chance) then I think Liverpool would certainly be in the mix. They like his profile, his potential and his ability to play multiple positions across the midfield. If the price was right, it would make a lot of sense.

There’s also Andre of Fluminense, and I’d not be surprised if we saw a deal for him lined up, maybe for January, once the South American season is done and dusted. Whether they would sign him AND another midfield player, though, I’m not as sure.

Personally, I believe a defender is a necessity for Liverpool in this window, but that looks less and less likely at the moment. It looks like they are going to go with what they have, but things can change quickly. A lot of fans will hope that is the case!

Potential exits and loans to watch out for

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool

There will be some departures at Anfield before the window closes, but the aim for Jurgen Klopp is to keep his main squad together. The club have insisted that they will resist any offers for Mohamed Salah – none have arrived yet – and have played down talk of exits for Joe Gomez and Thiago Alcantara.

Nat Phillips is one who will be allowed to leave, and the Bundesliga is a serious option for him. At 26, he needs a move and I expect him to get one this week, finally.

In terms of loans, Tyler Morton is wanted by Hull City, Luke Chambers has interest from a number of clubs and a decision will be made on young talent Bobby Clark, who will get a new contract and could then move to the Championship.

A few other U21 players could also get fixed up with temporary moves, though I expect both Ben Doak and Jarell Quansah, who have featured in the Premier League this season, to stay.

Liverpool’s summer has been underwhelming, but no one has had a great window

If nothing else was to happen in terms of incomings, I’d say it’s been a pretty underwhelming window for Liverpool. Sure, they have bought well in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, and added a bit of experience in Wataru Endo, but this was a window in which we expected the club to show serious ambition and really respond to the disappointments of last season.

Instead, we find them in a familiar position; with a good team but weaknesses that haven’t been addressed. They are still at the mercy of injuries to key players – Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk – still have too many players with question marks around their age, form or fitness – Matip, Gomez, Thiago, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic – and the general feeling is that, once again, they have talked a better game than they have played in the market.

In terms of the rest of the top six, I don’t think anyone has had what I would call a brilliant window.

Manchester City, naturally, remain strong, and Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic are fine players, but the loss of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez will be felt this season, and Kevin De Bruyne’s injury hurts them.

Ivan Toney’s suitability for Liverpool, plus latest on Andre and Gravenberch – exclusive Neil Jones column

Neil Jones — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:35:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my latest column for CaughtOffside – click here to subscribe to get this and more exclusive content straight to your inbox!

Thoughts on Endo’s arrival at Liverpool

It is fair to say that despite it being an open secret that Liverpool have been looking for a defensive midfielder, few of us expected them to land upon Wataru Endo as the man to replace Fabinho!

Jurgen Klopp even admitted that Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owners, needed a bit of persuading before signing the Japanese international, who at 30 years of age falls well outside of the Reds’ usual policy of targeting younger, up and coming players.

Liverpool, we know, missed out on two those in Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, and my understanding is that it was Klopp and sporting director Jorg Schmadtke who pushed for Endo’s signing, once it became clear that Caicedo and Lavia were heading for Chelsea.

There is a lot of Bundesliga knowledge at Anfield, and there was also a feeling that the remaining options in the transfer market were either not good enough or too expensive – and in some cases both, hence Liverpool readjusting their sights and going after Endo.

Clearly, it is not a move they would have made had Caicedo signed – I do wonder whether they might have signed Endo along with Lavia, however – or if either of Henderson or Fabinho had remained, but if he can do what he did at Stuttgart then he could prove a decent addition. His strengths – winning the ball, competing aerially, stopping counter-attacks and getting about the pitch – are what Liverpool need, and while his debut against Bournemouth was a tough one, there were at least a couple of flashes of what he might bring. He’s experienced, he’s captained his club and his country, and he should get plenty of chances to prove his worth this season.

Andre and other potential Liverpool targets

Could Andre be heading to Liverpool?

I think in an ideal world, Liverpool would add another midfield player in this window, and given they spent only £16m on Endo, having bid more than £110m for Caicedo, it would be fair to expect that there would be money available for the right player too.

Whether the right player is available is another matter. Liverpool certainly like Ryan Gravenberch, and have done for a number of years, but as it stands they have had little encouragement from Bayern Munich over a potential deal. Gravenberch would like to leave if a decent offer came in, he wants regular football, but Bayern have stood firm all summer, and they hold the cards in this one.

Keep an eye out for developments there, and in the case of Andre, the Fluminense midfield man. There is a lot of noise in Brazil that Liverpool may be about to go back in for the 22-year-old. I’ve not heard that at this point, but he’s certainly a player the Reds like.

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I’d be less sure on someone like Kalvin Phillips, who has been linked. Liverpool are not in the business of taking expensive risks, and the Manchester City man would certainly be a risk and he would certainly be expensive. I’d be surprised if that one moved.

In terms of defenders, there is little to report. My own opinion is that Liverpool need one, because an injury to any of their starting back four would be damaging, but as of yet there is no sign of anything happening there, in or out.

Would Ivan Toney be a good signing for Liverpool?

Ivan Toney has admitted to being a Liverpool fan in an interview this week, while he also spoke of his admiration for Arsenal. So, how easy is it to imagine the Brentford striker at Anfield?

Personally, I’m a big fan of Ivan Toney’s. I like his style, I like the personality with which he plays and I think he has developed into one of the best and most accomplished centre-forwards in the Premier League. To do what he has done in the last five seasons, first at Peterborough and then at Brentford, speaks to a huge talent as well as a big character.

I don’t think he’ll ever get his dream move, though. He’ll be 28 next March, and looking at Liverpool’s current forward options – all 26 or under apart from the irrepressible Mo Salah – I don’t see them targeting someone like Toney, irrespective of his off-field issues. There are other clubs – *cough*, Chelsea – who would be far better advised to go after him.

The post Ivan Toney’s suitability for Liverpool, plus latest on Andre and Gravenberch – exclusive Neil Jones column appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive Neil Jones column: Liverpool transfer news, featuring 9 potential midfielder targets & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:30:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my latest Liverpool FC transfer news column for CaughtOffside – click here to subscribe for more exclusive content from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Jonathan Johnson, Christian Falk and myself!

Plenty of positives to take from Liverpool’s draw at Chelsea

I think with regards to the result, and in many ways the performance, a sense of perspective is wise from a Liverpool perspective. A point at Stamford Bridge, in any season, is an acceptable result, and in this instance Liverpool were playing against a team that has a new coach, with new ideas, and players who should be more motivated and more together than they were for the majority of last season. Some were new, others had points to prove, but all are full of quality.

It was a good start to the game for the Reds, and I thought we saw what they will be capable of doing to sides in that first half hour or so. They have a lot of players who are very good technically, who can see and execute a pass, and the movement of the forwards remains as sharp as any team in the Premier League. Had there been a little more precision in certain moments – Jota overhitting a pass to Diaz, Salah miscontrolling, Gakpo squaring when he might have gone alone – then they could have been two or three goals up.

The worry, naturally, is what happened after that opening spell, when Chelsea gained control of the game and were the dominant force, towards the end of the first half and then for much of the second. Liverpool didn’t keep the ball as well as they needed to, and when they did lose it, they did so in bad areas which meant their shape was exposed. That’s been a bit of a theme of pre-season, and even before that, so it’s definitely something that will need work – both on the training ground and in the transfer market. A natural holding midfield player is a must, or failing that a change of shape to help close some of those gaps that appear.

The good news is that, on an individual basis, most players showed promise. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were good, Alisson Becker was his usual self, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai had encouraging debuts and there was enough from Salah and Luis Diaz to suggest goals will flow. Liverpool’s subs made a difference, too, and again had there been a little more precision in the final third, they may even have nicked the game.

Inside the Moises Caicedo rollercoaster

The Caicedo saga was, even for those of us well-versed in transfer-market shenanigans, a pretty crazy one. That Thursday and Friday last week was a rollercoaster, to say the least.

In many ways it’s pretty complicated but in others relatively straightforward. Liverpool have long believed Caicedo would end up at Chelsea, hence their reluctance to pursue a deal either in January or earlier this summer. But as that story rumbled on, and as their own need for midfielders became more clear, they began asking questions as to why a deal hadn’t been done with Chelsea. And those questions led, in the end, to enough encouragement, both from Brighton and from the player’s side, for that British-record £110m bid to be submitted (and accepted) on Thursday evening.

Even then, though, there was still a feeling that Chelsea would return, and so it turned out. Liverpool had hoped to get Caicedo up to Merseyside on Friday, but it was made clear pretty early that it would not be happening. Jurgen Klopp held a press conference at 10am on Friday morning, and his mood clearly suggested to those of us who were present that this was far from a done deal. And so it proved. Caicedo made it perfectly clear that it was Chelsea for him – they have been in contact for months – and Brighton had no choice but to reopen negotiations despite having accepted Liverpool’s offer.

What Liverpool are left with is a sense of disappointment, and a feeling that somewhere down the line they have been used, either by the player’s agent, by Brighton or by both, to scare Chelsea into action. Brighton have certainly won, Caicedo and his agents have won, but Liverpool most definitely haven’t.

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Exclusive Neil Jones column: A “feeling” Liverpool will sign Romeo Lavia, midfielder is a “manager’s dream”, plans for Thiago and Doak & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:58:45 +0000

Hello and welcome to my weekly LFC transfer news column for CaughtOffside on Substack – click here to subscribe for more exclusive content from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Christian Falk and Jonathan Johnson!

Liverpool need a long-term centre-back but their issues can be fixed on the training ground

Defensive issues have been present throughout pre-season for Liverpool and Mathias Honsak’s goal for Darmstadt on Monday was a prime example of the problems facing the Reds. I think it’s clear that Liverpool need to be buying at least one centre-back during the next 12 months, and in an ideal world, one would be signed in this window. Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are clearly the starting pair, and as good as any in the league when at their best, but beyond that, Joel Matip is 31 and looks a player whose best days are behind him, while Joe Gomez has not played regularly as a centre-back in almost three years, and will surely be needed to cover at right-back this season.

I’m not sure whether Jarell Quansah, 20, is ready to step up after just a handful of professional games in League One with Bristol Rovers. He could probably do with a loan. And so looking at the options, and some of the issues we’ve seen in pre-season, particularly with Matip, it feels like a defensive signing is needed. Ideally, it would be a young player who could develop over the next 12 months before taking over when Matip’s contract expires, but the trouble is that there is still so much to do in terms of finishing the midfield rebuild! That has to be the priority before anything is spent on a new centre-back.

I do also think that the ‘issues’ we have seen in pre-season would not necessarily be solved by simply signing a centre-back. Much of it stems from a lack of compactness and a lack of pressure on the ball higher up the pitch, which then leaves the last line exposed when opponents play around the press. And with Trent Alexander-Arnold spending as much time in midfield as he does at right-back, that means a lot of work for the right-sided centre-back. Konate will be earning overtime this season, he needs to stay fit!

What is going on with the Roméo Lavia deal?

I think with regards to Lavia, it is fair that questions are asked as to Liverpool’s approach. It has rarely been the case that we hear of one bid being rejected, let alone three, and when the difference between the latest offer (£45m) and the widely-reported asking price (£50m) is so small (relatively speaking) then I understand why people are wondering what the hold up is.

Liverpool sources were saying earlier in the summer that £50m for Lavia was excessive, but that was before the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson amplified their need for a midfielder. I get the impression that the club have looked at the market for potential No.6s/deep-lying midfielders and have not been too impressed, hence the fact they’ve circled back to Lavia. He’s certainly a gamble, given his age, the amount of games he’s played and the fact he’s a very different kind of player to Fabinho, more of a builder than a destroyer. The plus side is that he clearly has a high ceiling, his wages are relatively low and he wants to come to Liverpool. My feeling is that a compromise will be found, but it probably should have been found already.

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Alexis Mac Allister is a manager’s dream

I think both Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have done well throughout pre-season, and shown what they can bring to Liverpool going forward. Mac Allister looked the bargain of the summer when he signed, and nothing I’ve seen since has persuaded me otherwise. He looks like a manager’s dream, a team-mates’ dream, sure with his touch, spatially aware, always looking to play forward and willing to get his hands dirty without the ball. His versatility gives Liverpool flexibility, and of course, he has already shown that he can not only handle the Premier League, but thrive in it too.

Szoboszlai might need a little more time before he gets up to his top level, but there have certainly been signs of his potential in pre-season. He is clearly a very confident player, who always wants the ball and is technically very accomplished. He looks a good athlete and, having spoken briefly with him over in Germany after the Karlsruher SC friendly, he seems a solid character too. I think it’s fair to expect a slight adaptation period, in terms of the intensity of a new league and the specific demands of playing in a Klopp side, but I expect him to have a good impact this season.

The story of Thiago at Liverpool

Thiago did not feature at all for Liverpool throughout pre-season due to fitness issues and I am afraid that this is the story of the midfielder at Liverpool. Plenty of promise and real class at times, but unavailable too often. That’s not to say he cannot be an asset for Klopp this season. He’s a world-class player, and someone who I imagine would love playing with the likes of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gakpo, but first and foremost he has to get fit and stay fit. If Liverpool can get 25-30 games from him this season, I think they’d shake hands on that now.

Expect breakout star of pre-season to stay

Ben Doak has been one of the real breakout stars of pre-season, and I’d be amazed if he wasn’t kept around the first-team squad this season. I’m sure there are tons of clubs who would love to take him on loan – in fact, I know there are! – but his ability to impact games from the bench, especially in the final 10-15 minutes against tired defences, means that he can be a real asset for Klopp. Yes, Liverpool are well-stocked in forward areas right now, but we saw last season how quickly those numbers can dwindle as injuries take hold, and having someone like Doak, fearless, quick and dangerous, in reserve would be more than useful. I’d expect him to stay.

The post Exclusive Neil Jones column: A “feeling” Liverpool will sign Romeo Lavia, midfielder is a “manager’s dream”, plans for Thiago and Doak & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive Neil Jones column: Liverpool’s improved Lavia bid, Diaz future, Origi West Ham transfer & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 18:35:00 +0000

Liverpool to make improved Romeo Lavia bid but I’d love to see Moises Caicedo play that role in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield

Where else to start this week’s column than with Romeo Lavia? That’s the player Liverpool want in midfield, that’s the player they’ve made a bid for. They made their move over the weekend, with a £37m bid to Southampton. That’s been rejected, but it seems like Lavia is the option Liverpool have settled on.

Southampton obviously want a bigger price, around £50m, and it feels like Liverpool’s offer isn’t a million miles away from that now, taking into account add-ons. It feels like there’s a good chance a compromise could be found, but we’ll have to see how much Liverpool are willing to go up, and how much Southampton might be willing to lower their demands. My current understanding is that Liverpool are likely to go back in with an improved bid, worth in excess of £40m including add-ons.

A few other names have been mentioned as well, even if the Lavia interest seems the most concrete at the moment, but it’s not surprising that the club may have alternatives in mind. Joao Palhinha and Cheick Doucoure have been linked, and of those two I think the latter is far likelier. Doucoure is four of five years younger, so given his age and the money sort of money that would be required for these players, I think he clearly looks a more realistic target. He’s had a decent first season in the Premier League, but I still suspect his asking price quoted from Palace sources of £65-70m would be a little high. But similar money for Palhinha from Fulham, who’s 28 years old, makes that one a lot less likely. And that’s before taking into account that Palhinha also got what looked like quite a bad shoulder injury in a friendly against Brentford over the weekend, so I think we can probably tick him off the list. Doucoure, though, could be one to keep an eye on, depending on what happens with Lavia, as well as with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia

My ideal target, even if it’s not realistic, would probably be Moises Caicedo. I like Lavia, and think he could grow into a quality first-team player, but Caicedo is a more established player and would be my dream signing in that position. For me, he just ticks every box that you’d want from a Liverpool player to change this team going forward. He’s Premier League-proven, he’s energetic, he’s strong, he can pass, he can run, he’s shown he can fill in at right-back which could work well in a team with a roaming right-back like Trent Alexander-Arnold. Sadly, it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be possible this summer.

Could Liverpool look at Aurelien Tchouameni again?

I think another dream midfield signing could’ve been Aurelien Tchouameni. It was twelve months ago that Liverpool worked really hard on trying to get Tchouameni from Monaco. He was identified as the priority to come in and play alongside Fabinho to begin with, and then eventually succeed him. I think Liverpool felt they had a good chance of persuading the player to join, but then Real Madrid came in and once they were there and ready to make the move, Liverpool lost out.

I think that was a real disappointment for Liverpool in terms of their planning. They put all their eggs into that basket really, and if you look at what happened last season, and how the last twelve months have played out, they didn’t sign anyone else in that ilk and they did end up being a bit short of quality in terms of reliable midfield players, and it came back to haunt them with a below-par campaign overall.

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The question now, in terms of Liverpool ever being able to revive this deal, is would Real Madrid be willing to let him go? There’s been some speculation after he played perhaps a bit less than he would’ve liked in the second half of last season, but you can see with signings like Tchouameni, as well as Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham, that Real Madrid are really assembling a good young core of players.

Along with the likes of Vinicius and Rodrygo up front, you can see what Madrid clearly hope will be their next big team, and I think Tchouameni is going to be a big part of that. I would personally be very surprised to see them giving up already on a player they pushed so hard and paid so much money for.

I’m sure Liverpool would like to have that chance to revive their interest, but I can’t see Real giving them the chance to do so – unless they really decide to go strongly for Kylian Mbappe this summer and they need to free up some funds, but that doesn’t currently look like being the case.

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Exclusive Neil Jones column: Did LFC really have a chance to sign Mbappe? Plus money no object for Colwill transfer & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 19:30:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my weekly column for CaughtOffside – click here to subscribe to get this ad-free and straight to your inbox as soon as it drops, as well as other exclusive content from Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Christian Falk and Jonathan Johnson!

The truth behind those Kylian Mbappe and Liverpool links

Kylian Mbappe is a name we’ve often seen linked with Liverpool in recent times, but I can say now that there’s no chance of Liverpool signing him any time soon. If you look at the money he’s going to be moving for and how much he’d be earning, it’s just not realistic.

The truth is that the best chance Liverpool had of signing Mbappe was when he was still a teenager at Monaco. He burst onto the scene there in spectacular style, and possibly by establishing himself so quickly it cost Liverpool because he very quickly got that big move to PSG in 2017 after a great season with Monaco in the Champions League. I think that was the moment when Liverpool had half a chance of signing him, but then again they ended up signing Mohamed Salah that same summer, so you can argue that it didn’t really cost Liverpool much because they instead signed one of their best ever players who went on to win all sorts of major trophies.

A lot of the talk about Mbappe and Liverpool has been fan-led, really. There have been little bits and pieces in the press here and there, with the player speaking highly of the club, including calling them “a machine” in an interview a few years back, and often choosing to play as them on FIFA. I think he himself might also have admitted about a year ago that he had some talks with Liverpool, but nothing advanced, and that, again, the most realistic time for him to have moved there would’ve been when he was at Monaco.

Unless something huge changes in terms of who owns Liverpool and what their financial power is in the future, then I think their chances of signing Mbappe are very slim. There’s maybe a vague history there, but nothing much to get too excited about.

It’s a hypothetical, but it would also be interesting to ask Jurgen Klopp about how he’d deal with having a superstar name like Mbappe in his dressing room. You look at the values he’s always instilled at Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund, it’s all about the team, the collective, and humility. Mbappe is one of, if not the best footballer in the world at the moment, so it would be a huge question. Of course, there are certain players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and I’m sure Mbappe and Erling Haaland as well, that you make an exception for.

It would also be interesting to know if all this noise that seems to follow Mbappe is down to him or down to the environment at PSG. Would he be different at a better-run, stable, happy, cohesive club? Still, I think it would be perhaps Klopp’s biggest challenge to fit in someone with such status into a team that revolves so much about putting ego to one side and doing what’s best for the team.

Genuine Saudi interest in Jordan Henderson but exit would surprise me

There’s been speculation in the last few days about Jordan Henderson’s future. My understanding is that interest from Saudi Arabia definitely exists, and I’d say this week is likely to be pretty crucial in terms of where Henderson’s future lies. I imagine Liverpool would want clarity as soon as possible. My hunch is that he stays but we’ll see.

Liverpool may have made changes in midfield, but Henderson would also leave a void to be filled in terms of the captaincy. I’d imagine the obvious choice to take the armband would be Virgil van Dijk, who has stepped up to be vice-captain now that James Milner’s left. There’s a leadership group there, with Alisson Becker and Andrew Robertson as well, but I think Van Dijk is the leading candidate.

Still, I’m not convinced this is going to be an issue – at the time of writing there’s been no offer made from any club, and no communication from Henderson himself that he would like to leave or that he’s considering leaving. The links are there with Steven Gerrard now manager of Al-Ettifaq, and it’s worth noting that there are also similar stories linking them with the likes of Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum, Philippe Coutinho – there’s an obvious theme there with ex-Liverpool players and people Gerrard knows well.

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I would personally be quite surprised if Henderson were to turn his back on being Liverpool captain and being part of the England squad ahead of the European Championships next summer. It would be a huge decision for one of the biggest names in English football to leave for Saudi Arabia now, and I’m not convinced he will. He’s turned up for pre-season in tip-top shape, giving the impression that he’s ready to fight for his place at Liverpool and to be part of that England squad for the Euros, and get back to winning trophies – that’s what drives him, I don’t think he’s someone who’d easily have his head turned even by the life-changing money on offer in the Saudi Pro League. I think he’s still got some miles left in the tank in the Premier League.

Looking further ahead, if you ask people at Liverpool, I think he has that character to succeed as a coach in his post-playing career. He has an authority about him, he has high standards, and has always been known as being one of the main figures, along with the departing James Milner, to set the tone and the culture at the club. Knowing him as I do from talking him in the past, I don’t think he’s thinking about stopping playing yet, but he maybe has one eye on the future. I don’t know for certain if he’s started doing his coaching badges or made some kind of move into that yet, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if that was a direction he ended up going down. He’s been captain of Liverpool for eight years, so it’s hard to imagine him not seeing Liverpool in his future once he’s finished playing. Of course he’s a good speaker so he’ll have offers in the media as well, but I think his future will be in coaching, whether that’s senior management, or at youth level, I think there’ll be plenty of opportunities for him there.

Liverpool like Levi Colwill and paying big won’t be an issue

It’s no secret that Liverpool like Levi Colwill, as I reported back in March. Colwill is someone Liverpool really admire, and it’s hardly surprising as he was one of the best centre-backs in the league last season, he’s young, left-footed as well which is something Liverpool want, and I think he’s got a big future ahead of him.

The question has always been what Chelsea will do with him. There’s no question that Liverpool and Brighton want him, but it remains a big question if Chelsea are willing to allow him to leave, and at what kind of price. I think there is a possibility that Colwill will look at the situation at Chelsea and says he wants to play regularly and pushes to do so elsewhere if he thinks it’s not going to happen for him at Stamford Bridge. I think Chelsea would like him to sign a new contract, but there’s some uncertainty if he’ll do that, but equally the new manager Mauricio Pochettino could put him into the team once he’s back, and then I’m sure everyone would forget about any prospect of him leaving.

I think if Chelsea were to give any inkling that they were willing to negotiate for Colwill, then I think Liverpool would be right in there. But let’s not forget Chelsea have just sold one of their homegrown prospects in Mason Mount to a Premier League rival, so would they be willing to approve another deal like that? It seems like a big risk on Chelsea’s part, especially when they haven’t really had a good look at him in their first-team. He’s been out on loan, but he hasn’t really had the chance to show what he can do at Chelsea, so let’s see what the player decides, because that could be something that forces Chelsea’s hand and then let’s see what Liverpool can do.

There’s been talk of Brighton bidding as much as £40m for Colwill, and I don’t necessarily think money would be an issue for Liverpool if it came down to it. They’re slightly unfairly billed as a club who don’t like to splash the cash, but they will do it if it’s for a player they really want. They paid the most anyone had ever paid at the time for a centre-back in Virgil van Dijk, and spent big money on Alisson not long after that, and then there was the big fee for Darwin Nunez just last summer, and then €60m for Dominik Szoboszlai just recently, so if they feel the player is the right player, they could do it.

With Colwill, though, it might be a case of waiting and reassessing the defensive situation in a year’s time. If you look at the Liverpool defence at the moment, they’re not currently short of options; they’ve got Ibrahima Konate who I think is going to be one of the very best around, and they might look again at Joe Gomez to see if he can stay fit, so they might be more inclined to keep an eye on Colwill for another year and then go all-out for him next summer. By then it’ll be clearer what level Virgil van Dijk is still at, Joel Matip will be at the end of his contract, so that could be the ideal time to go and splash the cash on a centre-back.

Of course, the risk with that is if Colwill does leave Chelsea this summer, Liverpool surely have to be in the mix now because they don’t want to let him go to somewhere like Manchester City or Arsenal, then the chance is gone. Unless the fee is £100m or something absurd I don’t think it’s going to put Liverpool off, so it depends what Chelsea decide to do.

Liverpool have most likely moved on from Ryan Gravenberch

Ryan Gravenberch was a target for Liverpool earlier in the summer

My understanding is that while Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool might be one to keep half an eye on, it’s certainly cooled. There was talk before the end of the season that he was on Liverpool’s radar and that talks had taken place, but if you look at the players they’ve signed since then in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, I think you’d have to say it’s unlikely they get another midfield player of that type.

I think the problem with Gravenberch was always that Bayern didn’t want to sell him. They made it clear that he certainly wouldn’t be going cheap, so if you then look at Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, both deals were made that bit easier because they both had release clauses, so Liverpool knew what they had to do and the deals were quite smooth. Liverpool prefer to avoid long-drawn-out sagas and that kind of thing, and it’s proven a successful strategy for them, with two new midfield signings now in place before the start of pre-season.

Unless Bayern were to change their demands and perhaps negotiate Gravenberch for a reasonable price, I wouldn’t expect Liverpool to be back in the market for him. From his point of view, he’s obviously made it quite clear he’s not happy with the amount of playing time he’s had, and he’s open to seeing what might happen next. But he’s also said he’s at one of the top clubs in the world, so whether that’s something he’s said so as not to upset the fans or his bosses, or because he’s had some reassurances from Bayern about getting more playing time – who knows? What I will say is that Bayern have already brought in another midfielder in Konrad Laimer, and we know they tried to sign Declan Rice. So that doesn’t bode too well for Gravenberch, it doesn’t look like they’re looking to build their team around him. So let’s see if he looks to force a move in order to play regularly and if Bayern are ready to sell.

As I said, the message to Liverpool earlier in the summer was ‘no’, but let’s see if that changes nearer the end of the window. In terms of Liverpool, though, I expect that they decided to turn their attention to Mac Allister and Szoboszlai instead and this saga is now over.

Kaide Gordon closing in on return after 18-month injury nightmare

I wanted to finish with something of a forgotten man at Liverpool in Kaide Gordon. He was signed by Liverpool as a 16 year old after coming through at Derby County, and got off to a good start at Liverpool, scoring in the fist-team the season before last and starting a League Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Unfortunately he’s been out for 18 months now with a pelvic problem, which is linked to his growth and has been a real tough slog for him, but he’s now closing in on a return. He’s expected to be back training properly and working on the grass again by the end of this month.

He’s still only 18 years of age and has already shown so much promise, and he was back with the first-team squad at the AXA this week doing the last stages of his rehab. He’s going to be eased back in, playing with the Under-21s to start with, and then I think we’ll see him getting a slow reintroduction into football after such a long time out.

Liverpool fans can be excited by the young players coming through at the moment, such as Stefan Bajcetic and Ben Doak, but my message is that they definitely shouldn’t forget about Kaide Gordon either. Hopefully we’ll see him back on the pitch sooner rather than later and he can remind everyone why he was such a hot prospect not so long ago.

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Exclusive Neil Jones column: Carvalho exit explained, Osimhen transfer links, interest in Chelsea star, & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 21:15:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my latest exclusive column for CaughtOffside – click here to subscribe for more content like this, ad-free and straight to your inbox!

Fabio Carvalho pushed to leave Liverpool, but it’s a move that benefits all parties

Fabio Carvalho is understood to be closing in on a loan move to RB Leipzig, and I think this has been one that’s been on the cards for a while after he completely fell out of favour at Liverpool since the World Cup.

When he first joined last summer, following Liverpool also starting work on that deal the previous January, it was seen as a real coup for Liverpool. They beat off competition from a few other big clubs, including RB Leipzig at the time as well, and there was real excitement that they’d seen off rivals in Europe for a top young player.

Then if you look at his first few weeks at Liverpool, it looked quite promising. He scored early on in his Anfield career, opening his account in that 9-0 win over Bournemouth, and scored that late, late winner against Newcastle not long after. He started the Merseyside Derby as well, but overall the team wasn’t where it should’ve been, and he was one of the victims. If you look post-World Cup, he started only two games, so it’s not a huge surprise that he would look to leave on loan, or even permanently this summer. I was quite struck that he didn’t even get off the bench in the last game of the season against Southampton in a 4-4 draw when a lot of changes were made, and he must’ve been thinking ‘can I really do another year of this?’

My understanding is that this move has come about more from the player, and understandably so if you look at how little he played after the World Cup, but I think the terms of the loan deal tell you that there’s still hope he has a future at Anfield. Liverpool didn’t want to give up on him immediately, and they made sure there was no buy option at the end of the loan, which I believe Leipzig were keen on. Liverpool still believe there’s a player there who could be useful for them in the future, but for now you look at what Liverpool are trying to do in the transfer market, there’s a desire to strengthen their midfield – Alexis Mac Allister is a similar sort of player who’s already come in, and there could be more additions in that area, as I mentioned in my column last week, while Curtis Jones also made a really positive impact in the latter stages of last season, so there wouldn’t necessarily be much chance of Carvalho playing regularly this season.

Overall, I think this is a move that suits all parties well – Carvalho gets to go and play, and at a good level as well with a team in the Champions League and hoping to compete at the top end of the Bundesliga. Liverpool, meanwhile, get the chance to see what he can do and how he performs once he’s settled and gets more opportunities. Leipzig then also get a very talented young player with a point to prove. As I said, Liverpool weren’t keen on a buy option being in there, so I think there’s still a chance, even if only a slim chance, that Carvalho comes back to Liverpool in twelve months time and is ready to make an impression on the first-team. Remember he’s still only 20, so there is time for him to turn things around, even if Liverpool slightly looked like the wrong place at the wrong time for him now.

He’s an ambitious player, that’s why he joined Liverpool. He believes in himself and that’s why I think he and his entourage have been the driving force behind this, but I think Liverpool are sympathetic to his situation and they’ve also found a solution that works for them.

Liverpool have long been interested in Mason Mount but Man Utd move looks most likely now

While it might all be about Mason Mount and Manchester United now, I can confidently say that Liverpool were very interested in the Chelsea midfielder earlier this summer. He’s actually a player who’s long been on Liverpool’s radar, going back to when he was playing at youth level and there was a possibility that they could’ve signed him when he was about 16 or 17, but unfortunately it never materialised.

There was, as I understand it, the genuine belief that there was a chance of signing Mount from Chelsea this summer, looking at his contract situation and the general state of Chelsea’s squad and the need for players to be sold this summer. I’m told Liverpool felt they had a genuine chance of getting him, but it then became clear that the big issue would be that Chelsea were asking for a lot of money for a player with just a year left on his contract. The player also made it clear that if he was to move, Manchester United would be the club he preferred. From that point, Liverpool walked away and put themselves out of the picture.

Looking at how things have progressed since then, I think there’ll be some relief that they did walk away, because it looks like United are going to end up paying a lot for him. With Chelsea managing to offload a number of players like Kai Havertz, Mateo Kovacic, and the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy to Saudi Arabia, there’s less of a need now for Chelsea to sell Mount for a fee they have to heavily compromise on.

I certainly don’t see Liverpool coming back in for Mount, I could be proven wrong, but if the asking price stays at over £50m, I just don’t see Liverpool being in the mix. I think it’s now down to United and Chelsea to find a compromise, and from what I’m hearing it might not be too far away now anyway.

Liverpool aren’t chasing Victor Osimhen, but here’s what Darwin Nunez needs to do to turn things around

While I don’t like to dismiss stories or talk down what other journalists might be hearing from their sources, I have to say I would be amazed to see Liverpool sign Victor Osimhen, as has been reported elsewhere, or any other striker of that calibre or asking price, for that matter.

Liverpool have got a lot of options up front now, having signed Darwin Nunez last summer and Cody Gakpo in January, most likely with the expectation that Roberto Firmino was going to leave, which he has. There’s also Luis Diaz coming back from injury and Diogo Jota ending the season well once he returned to fitness.

It hasn’t quite happened for Nunez yet, but my understanding is the plan is to stick with this crop of players up front, so I’d be very surprised to see another forward signed this summer, unless of course there was another major injury in that department.

Osimhen’s obviously a very good player who’s had a great season, but I just don’t see Liverpool being in the market for that kind of player – they might more likely look for a younger forward as a signing for the future who could grow into being a starter later, but for the first-team I think the focus remains on midfield as a priority, and then beyond that maybe a centre-back.

On Nunez’s situation, it was a bit of a mixed first season for him at Anfield, but I think there were some promising signs. It’s easy to look at the price tag and his final tally of 15 goals then it might not look like the best season, but if you look at the goals he’s scored, a lot of them have come against top teams – he’s scored against Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, and then Real Madrid and Napoli in the Champions League. This ability to make his mark in big games has not gone unnoticed.

The key thing now is getting Nunez’s role right, and helping him find consistency. There is a question now over his role, with the Gakpo signing in January complicating things slightly, as he’s really started to nail down that number 9 role. He’s maybe more of a Firmino-like player than Nunez is, so how that ties in with fitting the Uruguayan in as well, I’m not sure. From speaking to people at Liverpool, they seem pretty sure that if he’s going to make it he’s going to have to play down the middle, that’s where he’s got that pace and physical presence, and he is a good finisher when he’s confident. His numbers on shots and xG in that position are very good, that’s clearly where he’s most effective and so you want him as close to goal as possible. I think there’s a feeling that he’ll have to play as a number 9 but the question is how that works with Gakpo as well, whether they can play there together, or share the role with one playing one week and the another the next, or if it means Gakpo moving out to the left.

I think Klopp went on record as saying that the language barrier has been an issue for Nunez. He hadn’t taken to English as they might’ve hoped, unlike, for example, Luis Diaz. I think that has affected Nunez’s integration, so they’ll hope he’s made strides on that ahead of pre-season. It does make a big difference, especially with a manager like Jurgen Klopp, who has a very specific way of doing things getting his team to play – it’s not easy to grasp the intricacies of that if you’re not up to speed with the language. Still, I think the club still has a lot of faith in him, and it’s been a key part of the plan to have someone like him who can offer something a bit different up front, offering more of a presence than Firmino, stretching the play a bit more and getting in behind. I’m told there’s still a lot of faith he can do that, even if he does have to earn his place against a lot of competition. There’s certainly no major worries from Liverpool, more a desire to help him improve.

Liverpool have had recent language issues as well with Takumi Minamino, who came in just before the pandemic, and then the timing of that obviously affected his ability to settle. There was also talk of Naby Keita having some problems in that regard, though I asked someone at Liverpool about that and was told that he could hold a conversation, it wasn’t as bad as others had made out. I think Keita’s main problem was getting that rhythm going, with injuries disrupting him and stopping him getting a run in the team that would’ve nailed down his place. With Nunez, I think it’s been more pronounced.

Thoughts on Mohamed Salah and Steven Gerrard’s Saudi links

I’m aware there’s been some inevitable noise about clubs in Saudi Arabia and Mohamed Salah, but I’ve not heard anything concrete on that and I think it would clearly be a bad time for Liverpool to sell. Yes, he’s 31 now but he signed a new contract last summer and it’s still clear he’s one of the few world class players in this Liverpool squad.

If you look at the forward options in particular, there’s a lot of potential in the likes of Gakpo, but there isn’t proven world class talent like Salah now that Sadio Mane’s gone. Elsewhere in the squad, it probably isn’t filled with as much world class talent as it was a few years ago, but Salah is unarguably in that bracket, along with Alisson and maybe Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. If Salah were to leave, it would be a big blow and really tough for Liverpool to try to deal with.

I don’t think anything’s going to happen this summer, even if we do continue to see plenty of transfer rumours involving Saudi clubs, who clearly have big plans, but I don’t think Liverpool would even contemplate Salah leaving this summer. I also don’t think Salah is looking to leave Liverpool now. Still, if Saudi do keep trying to expand their empire, then I can see them viewing Salah, a prominent figure in world football, as a massive signing for them – you’d imagine that would be high on their agenda. So I think there might be a chance of a future move, from speaking to people in Egypt in particular, but definitely not this summer. He still has the motivation to play at the highest level, winning the Champions League, breaking records, competing for the Ballon d’Or, and that sort of thing. That’s what he lives for, and I think there’s more to come from him at the centre of the European game.

Another Liverpool figure being linked with Saudi Arabia is Steven Gerrard, but it looks like that’s now off the table. Having been touted in the past as a future Liverpool manager, I think he’s got to pick his next job very, very carefully. I wouldn’t say it’s make or break for him just yet, but it’s an important stage in his career and I don’t think Saudi Arabia would be the right path for him right now.

As a Liverpool correspondent, I’ve obviously got a vested interest in seeing him do well, but I do think he deserves another chance after his Aston Villa experience. He didn’t get what he wanted from that team, but I wouldn’t write him off just yet. He didn’t get a lot of time, I think it was less than a year, so I think it would be harsh to judge him on that, especially when there was initial promise when he first took over. He showed he can organise a team, he attracted some big signings like Philippe Coutinho, and Diego Carlos, let’s not forget, who was unlucky to get a serious injury not long after he joined, and only played once Gerrard was no longer at the club.

It’s also worth remembering that the work Gerrard did at Rangers was hugely impressive – he toppled a dominant Celtic side, getting Rangers back to where they wanted to be, playing well in the Champions League and mixing it up a bit tactically – he deserves huge credit for that. But, there’s no doubt he’s in a situation now where he’s unlikely to get a Premier League job next, so he needs to pick his next club very carefully. I think Sheffield Wednesday have been linked and Leeds had an interest at some stage too.

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While I think Saudi would be the wrong move at this stage, he could perhaps do well to try a challenge abroad, and I’m aware there’s been interest in him from clubs in Turkey. Wherever he goes, he needs to know he’s going to get a good chance and a fair backing, not somewhere where he’s going to find himself under huge pressure if he loses a few games in a row.

As someone who’s worked closely with Gerrard, speaking to him several times and covering his career as both a player and a coach, I still firmly believe the potential is there for him to be a very good manager. I don’t think he’ll be out of work for much longer, and I’d like to see him in the Championship, with a big club like Leeds, Norwich or Sheffield Wednesday, where there’s plenty of expectation, but also an opportunity to build something.

He and Jurgen Klopp used to live in the same area of Formby, and they’ve got a good relationship. There was a nice moment just before the Champions League final in 2022 when they met up in a local pub for a drink together, just chewing the fat, and I know they’re still definitely in touch. Gerrard’s gone on record as saying Klopp’s always someone who’ll pick up the phone to him any time, and he’s got a good relationship with Alex Inglethorpe at the academy – he gave him his chance a few years back to manage the Under-18s – he’s someone he speaks to a lot. He’s certainly not out of sight or out of mind at Liverpool, he’s still part of the family, playing in Legends games and I think he was recently at a promotional event in Ireland.

Obviously I don’t know if he’ll be Liverpool manager one day, but the strong relationship is still there, not least with Jurgen Klopp. Let’s see what he can do next in what is likely to be an important step for him in management.

The post Exclusive Neil Jones column: Carvalho exit explained, Osimhen transfer links, interest in Chelsea star, & more appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Exclusive Neil Jones column: Why Liverpool prefer Thuram to Lavia, defensive targets, Mane future & more

Neil Jones — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 21:35:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to my first column for CaughtOffside! I’ll be joining Fabrizio Romano, Ben Jacobs, Christian Falk and Jonathan Johnson on the Daily Briefing with a weekly report on the latest Liverpool transfer news. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy!

The latest on Liverpool’s midfield search

The signing of Alexis Mac Allister may be done and dusted, but midfield remains a priority for Liverpool in this summer’s transfer market. Mac Allister is a significant signing to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s options, but it’s never been a secret that the club ideally wanted two or even three new signings in that position.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner have already left, and even when they were there they weren’t too well stocked in midfield, so I don’t think they’re anywhere near done with their business in that position. There hasn’t been much movement since the Mac Allister deal was confirmed, but I think Liverpool are manoeuvring behind the scenes to find the players they really want.

Obviously Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone have been mentioned. From my understanding, Thuram is the likeliest out of those – the profile of him, his physique, his age, and the club he’s playing at, the kind of money that would be involved – I think he perfectly fits the bill. It remains to be seen how willing Nice are to let him go, and I think the fact that there looks like a number of midfield players likely to move soon in this market means that Nice might just be waiting to see the how the dominos fall, and what kind of price they can get for him.

Still, I think Liverpool and Thuram, even if it hasn’t moved much in the last seven days and a fee hasn’t yet been agreed, he’s definitely been identified as someone Liverpool want.

We’ve also known for some time that the Liverpool coaching staff are huge admirers of Nicolo Barella. Pep Lijnders referenced the Inter Milan midfielder in his book, naming him as one of the best midfielders in Europe and someone they were keeping a close eye on when they came up against Inter in the Champions League.

The issue is how much he’d cost and how willing he is to come and play in the Premier League. There’s been some talk of Newcastle also being interested, but that was played down quite quickly and it seems he doesn’t fancy that move, so let’s see how open he is to playing in England. It would be a nice surprise, but at this stage I would be pretty surprised if Liverpool were to go on and sign Barella this summer.

Romeo Lavia’s also an interesting one, as he’s probably the sort of player Liverpool would’ve signed if things had gone a little more to plan in the last twelve months. He’s a young player and if Liverpool were in a better position and trying to make small improvements from a position of strength, then I could see Lavia being high up on their agenda, based on his age, his potential and his style of play. I just suspect now, with the way things have gone wrong for Liverpool in the last year or so, that they feel they need someone who’s a bit more of a guarantee, someone with a bit more of a proven record of what they can do at the top level. Lavia is a top talent but I get the impression he’d possibly be seen as too much of a gamble at the moment. He’s a player they admire and they’re by no means alone in that – Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, they’re all in there, but from a Liverpool perspective, whenever I’ve spoken to people around the club about Lavia, the impression I’m getting is that it’s maybe a bit too soon for Liverpool to put all their eggs in that basket.

Romeo Lavia not a Liverpool priority

Still, it looks like it could be a busy summer with midfielders, and we’re yet to see exactly what happens with Arsenal and Declan Rice, what Chelsea decide to do with someone like Moises Caicedo, and I’d be amazed if Manchester United weren’t interested at some point with what they need in midfield, so there’s a risk in leaving it too long and I wouldn’t be that surprised if, depending on how the cards fall, that this ends up being one Liverpool could circle back to. For now, though, I’d keep more of an eye on Thuram than Lavia. If you look at the history of Liverpool’s signings in recent years there’s definitely a pattern in terms of the age – somewhere between 23 and 25, and the price, so I think that’s where Lavia, who only turned 19 in January and who might cost upwards of £50m, doesn’t quite fit the profile.

It also takes a particular personality to thrive in this Jurgen Klopp side – they often tend to sign players who’ve overcome difficulties elsewhere and maybe have a point to prove, or worked their way up from a lower level. So many of them fit that bracket, like Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Fabinho, whereas someone like Lavia would be a bit of a move away from that – it doesn’t mean it can’t happen but I’d be surprised.

Remember that Liverpool set aside a lot of money for Jude Bellingham, and I think that’s the kind of budget they’ll now look to use on midfielders. Mac Allister came for £35m, and I don’t expect Liverpool to spend anything like £70-80m on anyone, probably closer to £40m.

Gabri Veiga interest makes sense – but he might not be the right tactical fit for Liverpool

I’m aware there’s been talk of Liverpool enquiring for Gabri Veiga, but my sources have been a bit cooler on those links. There’s no doubt about the quality of the player, but it’s more about the type of player he is – they’ve just brought in Mac Allister, who you would expect would play as an advanced number 8, though he can also operate deeper, so I’d say there’s a question-mark over whether another similar player like that fits into their midfield. Obviously we saw Klopp try something a bit different in midfield towards the end of last season with Trent Alexander-Arnold moving there and influencing things. Veiga, however, probably doesn’t fit the bill if Liverpool want a more physical player in there, as he’s more attack-minded and similar to the Mac Allister mould.

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