A round-up of all the latest transfer news, gossip and speculation as Liverpool supporters await a first senior signing of the January window
Leipzig's Yan Diomande and Bayern's Harry Kane challenge for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Yan Diomande is expected to be the subject of a bidding war this summer, with Liverpool's interest "currently the strongest"(Image: AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
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Well, well, well. How the turntables.
A sensational report from Marca earlier this week started a chain reaction of speculation around the future of Arne Slot, with the Liverpool head coach coming under increased pressure since Xabi Alonso parted ways with Real Madrid last week.
They've gone awfully quiet now.
Liverpool's 3-0 win over Marseille was not perfect, but it was the first comfortable, convincing win we've seen for a long, long time.
Whisper it quietly, but there's even a sniff of optimism around the Reds in Europe, with shades of 2004/05 in how much they've struggled against physical, English sides but had success in big European aways. Marseille now join Inter on the casualty list, with both Madrid sides succumbing at Anfield, too.
There are other reasons to be positive too - more sources are starting to corroborate some big links to top Premier League players, with every chance the summer will see a lot more activity on the transfer front than January has so far.
We'll also delve into Liverpool's next steps after missing out on Marc Guehi, and reports of a mega bid for a young player seen as the man to replace the irreplaceable in Mohamed Salah...
'Formal offer' expected for Mohamed Salah's heir
CaughtOffside have claimed insider information from the agent industry on Liverpool's long-term plans to replace Mohamed Salah, and the name suggested is one that has been linked repeatedly with the club this month.
According to the sources, the Reds' interest in RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande "is currently the strongest" of a cohort of European giants including Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich.
The 19-year-old prodigy has scored seven and assisted four in 18 club appearances so far this season, with three international goals to his name since making his Ivory Coast debut in October.
The report claimed: "The Reds are expected to make a formal approach in the coming months, viewing Diomande as a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah and a perfect fit for their new system."
Diomande admitted in November that his dream is to play for Liverpool, and senior Red Bull executive Oliver Mintzlaff earlier in the week stirred the pot when he warned that Leipzig "have to generate revenue" when asked about the future of Diomande.
The full quotes, translated by The Athletic's Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, paint a slightly different picture, however. Mintzlaff came out swinging and ruled out a sale for even €80-90m, suggesting €100m (£87.4m) would be required to prise the winger away from Leipzig.
A summer bidding war is nevertheless seen as an inevitability, with The Independent's Miguel Delaney adding fuel to the fire of speculation over a move to Merseyside.
Delaney said: "Every club in Europe wants him. I'm told he won’t move this January, but if everything aligns in the summer and Salah leaves, he becomes an obvious option.
"There's the emotional pull, and the fact Liverpool compete for major trophies. His camp also feel he'll have even more options after a World Cup with Ivory Coast."
Reading the tea leaves, Salah's great Reds career does appear to be heading towards its denouement, whether it's this year or at the end of his contract.
The Telegraph reported yesterday (Thursday) that Salah and Vinicius Junior are "prime transfer targets" for the Saudi Pro League this summer, with the likes of Sadio Mane, Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N'Golo Kante potentially set to move on.
Public Investment Fund (PIF) chiefs are said to be "confident" in their ability to attract the Egyptian, who is understood to have ruled out a January move.
The Athletic's James Pearce, meanwhile, reported that Salah "has never given any indication that he is ready to walk away from competing at the highest level in Europe."
This definitely feels like one to watch, with Salah's future up in the air this summer and Diomande currently producing numbers that suggest he could take on the mantle of being the main man for a top European side.
What's next for Liverpool after Marc Guehi?
Marc Guehi poses with pen in hand next to Hugo Viana as he signs for Manchester City.
Marc Guehi has completed his move to Manchester City (Image: Manchester City FC)
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Now that the dust has settled on Marc Guehi's switch to rivals Manchester City, Liverpool fans have been left wondering who - if anyone - could be next in line to boost Arne Slot's side.
Writing for The Athletic's Transfer DealSheet, Gregg Evans explained why the Reds aren't expected to move for an alternative option in the heart of the defence this transfer window.
Evans said: "The changes in the Guehi situation won't affect Liverpool’s planning as the approach to this window remains the same.
"Generally, their owners at Fenway Sports Group only sanction big deals in January if top-quality players who fit the long-term plan are available.
"Although their central defensive options will become limited if Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate are out, they still have cover for Conor Bradley at right-back with Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez and Calvin Ramsay.
"The rest of the winter window is expected to be quiet, unless a suitable market opportunity comes up."
Also writing for The Athletic, Liverpool FC reporter James Pearce warned stepping back from the Guehi deal represented a "gamble" for the Reds, but interestingly suggested the new City number 15 wasn't seen as a game-changing signing, more of a "bonus rather than a necessity."
Pearce said: "Given his contract situation, Guehi was viewed as a decent market opportunity if Palace agreed to sell and if the price wasn’t prohibitive."
But that doesn't mean the Reds won't be looking to strengthen in that department in the summer.
Dean Jones has told TEAMtalk that Liverpool are "still very much going into the market for a centre-back", with "hints" that the club will also pursue a right-back, left-back, central midfielder and right-sided attacker should Mohamed Salah leave.
David Lynch told Anfield Index (via Rousing the Kop) that the Reds "have watched" Chelsea target Jeremy Jacquet.
The defending Premier League champions, however, are after a more experienced central defender, with Jacquet "not a player that improves Liverpool immediately".
The signs point towards Richard Hughes and Co keeping their powder dry for the summer, with a long-term Virgil van Dijk replacement required sooner than many would like to acknowledge.
Recent rumours around Nico Schlotterbeck and Alessandro Bastoni (subject of fresh links to Liverpool from Fichajes) show a clear pattern towards identifying a left-sided centre-half who can marshal the defence for the next decade - one that is further underlined by the next man up for discussion.
Micky van de Ven talk heats up
Micky van de Ven in Tottenham Hotspur home colours looks on.
Micky van de Ven has been linked with a move to Liverpool by multiple media outlets(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
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The aforementioned Dean Jones has revealed separately to TEAMtalk that Liverpool's reported interest in Micky van de Ven "is genuine", with the Tottenham Hotspur defender "unconvinced by the project" while Thomas Frank remains at the helm.
The Reds could, however, face competition from Real Madrid, who are "keeping an eye on how things play out."
We briefly touched on the Fichajes piece that kicked speculation of a Liverpool move for van de Ven into gear earlier in the week, but the Spanish outlet didn't exactly inspire confidence in the veracity of these claims.
But several sources have since corroborated the claim, with the Daily Mail's well-respected sports section seemingly confirming The Reds' "keen interest which will be a test of Spurs' resolve in the summer".
The asking price for van de Ven, however, is very much a matter of debate. Fichajes reported Liverpool were willing to pay £78m, while TEAMtalk claimed Spurs "are acutely aware of interest from Liverpool and Manchester United", and want £100m for the Dutchman.
Ben Jacobs even went so far as to claim Tottenham "would be expecting a British transfer record" when speaking on The Last Word On Spurs podcast (via Rousing the Kop).
Jacobs claimed the asking price would not change before the end of the current transfer window, while "it may well not change in the summer either".
Van de Ven will still have three years left on his existing deal come the summer, so Spurs would be well within their rights to demand a high fee for their prized defensive asset. But a "British transfer record" could mean any number of figures.
The British transfer record is, of course, held by Liverpool, with the signing of Alexander Isak potentially reaching as high as £125m.
It's hard to see any club paying a fee in the region of what the Reds paid for Isak. Despite his pace, composure and height, Van de Ven is not the strongest in the air, winning only 40.7% of his aerial duels in the league this season.
A fee in the region of the Harry Maguire transfer to Manchester United or Liverpool's signing of Virgil van Dijk is a lot more realistic taking transfer fee inflation into account, but the Reds would have to be certain Van de Ven is the one.
Crystal Palace "accept" Adam Wharton will leave
Adam Wharton in Crystal Palace home colours looks for a pass. Also pictured: Will Hughes in Crystal Palace home colours and John McGinn in Aston Villa away colours.
Crystal Palace are claimed to "have accepted" Adam Wharton will leave in the summer. The Eagles are said to be looking for a fee in the region of £65 million.(Image: Ian Tuttle/Shutterstock)
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If this rumour only came from Fichajes, it probably wouldn't be worth a whole section of this column.
But TEAMtalk sources have corroborated that Liverpool are monitoring Adam Wharton, which will come as no surprise to those who have watched the Crystal Palace holding midfielder.
Acknowledging the unreliability of the initial report, TEAMtalk claimed the Reds "are keeping close tabs on [Wharton's] situation ahead of a potential summer swoop", with the England international available for as little as £65m.
Yes, that is a huge amount of money, but considering figures in the £100m region were being thrown around last year, it would surely represen value for a 21-year-old player with bags of potential to go with his quality in the here and now.
Liverpool are not alone in making eyes at Wharton, however, with The Guardian naming Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United as potentially interested parties in their gossip column.
Man United's interest has been reported by TEAMtalk as well, in a report that claimed information from Palace sources indicating that the club "have accepted" Wharton will likely move on this year.
Andre back on the agenda
Andre in Wolverhampton Wanderers home colours looks on in the snow with his mouth open.
Andre was linked with Liverpool in Jurgen Klopp's final season before completing a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers(Image: Getty Images)
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Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Andre (no relation to Peter) was linked heavily with Liverpool back in 2023, while shining for Fernando Diniz's Copa Libertadores-winning Fluminense side.
At one point expected to complete a move to the Reds, the deep-lying Brazilian playmaker ultimately moved to Wolves in summer 2024 for a fee believed to be around £21m.
The impending departure of Jurgen Klopp - as of then, still unknown to fans but communicated to club higher-ups at the time - may have put the brakes on his move to Anfield, but a fresh report from Brazil has claimed Liverpool could be back in for Andre.
RTI Esporte have reported that Wolves would struggle to hang onto the midfielder if relegated, with the Reds "continuing to monitor Andre's statistics."
The report claimed: "Regardless of Wolverhampton's relegation, Liverpool intend to present an official proposal for the player.
"It is expected that Wolves will not agree to negotiate for Andre for less than €30m [£26.2m]."
Fluminense are also said to be entitled to 10% of any future transfer fee for Andre, on top of a 4% solidarity payment mandated by FIFA.
It therefore stands to reason that the £26.2m proposed would be a starting point for negotiations, with Wolves likely to demand higher to sanction Andre's exit.
Still, the need for Wolves to slash their overheads if relegated could present Liverpool with one of those famous 'market opportunities'.
But Andre is still a long way from being a standout performer in the Premier League, so this move feels unlikely for the Reds
New deals for Liverpool midfielders
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister warm up in Liverpool training tops and home shorts.
Dominik Szoboszlai has begun talks with Liverpool over a new contract(Image: PA)
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Dominik Szoboszlai has confirmed he is in talks with Liverpool over a new contract, with the Hungarian midfielder naturally coy on the future outcome of those discussions.
Szoboszlai said: "There have been talks, but for sure not any decision has been made. There is always progress but no decision has been made and I'll just keep on going every week, every training, giving my best for the team, for the fans.
"Let's see what is going to happen in the future. I am happy here but you know how football works and that is something everybody has to take into account."
Fans would be forgiven for getting shivers down their spines after reading Szoboszlai's comments, given recent sagas over new deals for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate.
But Szoboszlai's words are in fact fairly typical of a player not wanting to give anything away that could weaken their hand in lucrative contract negotiations.
Liverpool, for their part, are believed to have indicated that Szoboszlai has the attributes required to be a future club captain and are prioritising his long-term future.
The Times' Liverpool writer Paul Joyce (via DaveOCKOP) has reported that the Reds are also looking to tie down Ryan Gravenberch.
"Contact" has also been made with Alexis Mac Allister's representatives, though "talks have not been in depth thus far."
All three midfielders' contracts are currently set to expire in 2028.
Juventus about-turn on Federico Chiesa alternative
Juventus are hoping Liverpool will lower their demands for out-of-favour attacker Federico Chiesa this week, following Mohamed Salah's return from AFCON duty in Morocco, according to a new report from Calciomercato.
With the Egyptian's return to the squad against Marseille, Chiesa is expected to pick up even fewer minutes.
The minor knock that ruled him out of the Champions League game, though, is not expected to impact his availability for the weekend - or, indeed, for a transfer.
But Liverpool are not expected to sanction Juventus' preferred option of a loan move for Chiesa (The Athletic), instead demanding a fee which Calciomercato claim is between €15 and €20m.
And Liverpool reporter David Lynch told Sports Mole on Tuesday that a replacement would need to be brought in for Chiesa to be allowed to leave.
Lynch said: "I struggle to see Liverpool being willing to sanction an exit unless we are talking about an offer in the 'you can't refuse' territory.
"Even that would have to be massive because they're short at the moment in forward areas. Salah coming back will help, but selling him when you're already struggling to score goals, at a time when Isak's still a way off, would be madness.
"Liverpool won't sanction his exit unless they can do something there, but there just aren't enough links around or any suggestions that they are tracking forward players that they could sign now for the future."
Lynch did however confirm what we all know, in that Chiesa is expected to leave the club "in the next two windows".
Juventus appeared to have ended their interest in their former player earlier this week as they explored alternative options.
Il Bianconero reported that the Old Lady were still considering Atalanta's Daniel Maldini as a Chiesa alternative, while Hellas Verona striker Giovane Nascimento is on the radar.
Juve also explored a deal for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has informed the club of his desire to leave, but according to The Athletic they were not prepared to cough up the Eagles' £34.7m asking price. Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri is seen as an alternative.
Aston Villa could now move for Mateta instead, with the misfiring Evann Guessand heading in the opposite direction.
With Leon Bailey set to be recalled from Roma, the prospect of Harvey Elliott picking up any more game time this season looks even less likely.
Nonsense of the day
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks on from the bench wearing a shirt, jumper and baseball cap.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is the subject of an outrageous report linking him with a return to the Premier League(Image: Getty Images)
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And thus return the prodigal sons of the silly transfer rumour.
Fichajes might turn out to have accurately called Liverpool's interest in Micky van de Ven, but with output levels like theirs something is always bound to land.
Mostly it's wiser just to assume you're looking at a wild swing, and today's nonsense is just that. According to the Spanish outlet, Newcastle United have joined a "bidding war" for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
No, that wasn't a typo. And no, you don't need an eye test either.
Double Premier League and Champions League-winner Alexander-Arnold is apparently "seeking a project where he can be the absolute star from the flanks", and Newcastle's interest will "add more fuel to the fire".
In the interest of fairness, I will caveat this inclusion by acknowledging that Bayern Munich are mentioned most prominently in Fichajes' report, and Manchester City are also named as fellow British competition.
But if this rumour isn't provoking a good belly laugh and an "ai ai ai", then I'm not sure what will.
Still, numerous reports have mused on Alexander-Arnold's future in the Spanish capital given the right-back's limited game time.
As covered here earlier in the week, speculation that the former Liverpool player is unhappy has already kicked into gear.
Alexander-Arnold has struggled with injuries since arriving in Madrid but the lay of the land has changed with Xabi Alonso's dismissal and it's not inconceivable that Los Blancos could look to make a quick profit on the England international if a good offer arrives in the summer.
Just not from Newcastle.