Liverpool's summer transfer window is shaping up to be a busy one, with a host of new faces set to join the club. The Reds are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the new season, with a number of exciting young talents on their radar. Here's a round-up of the latest transfer news and rumours surrounding Liverpool, with a focus on the players who could be set to join the club.
New Centre-Backs and Academy Options
Liverpool are looking to strengthen their defence, with two new centre-backs already on their way in. The first is 18-year-old Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who has joined the club from Austria Vienna in a deal worth an initial £2.6million. Ndukwe has already represented Austria at U19 level and played for them in the U17 World Cup final loss to Portugal last year. The second new centre-back is 16-year-old Dara Jikiemi, who has signed a five-year deal with the Reds from Celtic.
The club is also looking to bolster their Academy options at both U21 and U18 level. With Ndukwe and Jikiemi already on board, Liverpool will soon have another new centre-back to call upon.
World Cup Stars and Reunion
Liverpool had a strong showing at the World Cup, with several players making an impact. One of the most notable moments was the reunion between Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah, who embraced on the pitch after Argentina saw off Egypt in the last-16. Mac Allister was imperious as he helped drive Argentina on, and ultimately, Cristian Romero, Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandez ensured their country would go through to the quarter-finals to face Switzerland on Sunday.
Transfer Links and Rumours
Liverpool are said to be in the running for several other World Cup stars, including PSG star Bradley Barcola, who is valued in excess of £100million. However, The Athletic has claimed that the Gunners have made Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers the “top priority” this summer, while the Reds have alternative names if a move for the PSG winger isn’t made. Liverpool are also said to have contacted Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano, with Arsenal and Manchester United also in the running for the Japanese star.
Another player linked with Liverpool is Wolves forward Mateus Mane, who has been told to stay where he is and turn down a move to the Reds. Former Wolves star Don Goodman said that Mane is not ready for Liverpool just yet, despite his undoubted talent and fearlessness on the pitch.
Liverpool are also said to have enquired about Mexico star Gilberto Mora, who has impressed at the World Cup. The Reds have “opened lines of communication” over the teenager, but no offer has been made as of yet. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah’s future is still up in the air, with Roma and Juventus both reportedly interested in bringing him back to Serie A.
Conclusion
Liverpool’s summer transfer window is shaping up to be an exciting one, with a host of new faces set to join the club. With a number of World Cup stars on their radar, the Reds are looking to strengthen their squad and build for the future. As the window heats up, we can expect to see more transfer rumours and links, with Liverpool looking to make the most of the opportunity to bring in some exciting new talent.
