Today's Liverpool FC transfer round-up column sees the rumour mill go into overdrive as major changes kick in behind the scenes
Van Dijk exited the World Cup with the Netherlands on Tuesday but could he be on his way out of Liverpool, too? Probably not, no
Van Dijk exited the World Cup with the Netherlands but could he be on his way out of Liverpool, too? Probably not, no(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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It's all change at Liverpool. Clearly there's plenty to round up in the transfer market - why would you be here otherwise? - but the sands are shifting behind the scenes at Anfield, too.
Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick are confirmed to be joining Liverpool as Andoni Iraola's new first-team coaches, while Pablo de la Torre will serve as assistant coach and Tom Webber as first-team tactical analyst.
All four men worked alongside Iraola at Bournemouth, with de la Torre having followed the Basque all the way from AEK Larnaca in 2018 through Iraola's stint at Rayo Vallecano and then his three-year spell on the south coast.
Webber's arrival follows Liverpool's previous analyst, Roderick van der Ham, announcing his exit on LinkedIn. Van der Ham was the last remaining member of Arne Slot's coaching staff.
The appointments have been long-expected - their moves were delayed as they negotiated exit agreements from Bournemouth - but another update this morning lands as a shock despite being something of an open secret for some time.
Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director - who oversaw the appointments of both Slot and Iraola and who negotiated the club's record-breaking summer of transfers last year - is expected to leave the club and join Saudi Pro League Al Hilal, according to reports this morning, including from David Ornstein and James Horncastle in The Athletic.
Simon Francis, the man who replaced Richard Hughes as sporting director at Bournemouth, has already made the move. Francis and Al Hilal's hierarchy are now "operating on the basis of Hughes arriving at the Riyadh-based club in due course".
Though Hughes' exit had been rumoured since the end of the season, the credible reports of his imminent move nevertheless raise serious questions - not least, who is in charge of Liverpool's transfers this summer?
It also raises concerns around Liverpool's long-term planning. Should a sporting director whose future lies elsewhere have been trusted with appointing a head coach he will not be working with beyond the summer?
Official confirmation is still awaited, and the wording of Ornstein's and Horncastle's report implies the move might not be something that takes place immediately.
What happens now?
What the hell is going on?
I don't care! I just came for the transfer rumours! Why aren't you telling me about which players Liverpool are signing?
If any of these questions apply to you, you've come to the right place. Join us again as we round up the latest gossip and rumours in the Reds transfer news column....
Barcelona are "open to letting Kounde go"
Barcelona and France right-back Jules Kounde is "now available on the market for just £55m", according to CaughtOffside editor-in-chief Mark Brus.
Kounde, 27, can play right-back or centre-back and we covered rumours of his potential availability in this column last week. Barcelona were said to be open to a refresh at right-back, which would only be possible if Kounde was open to an exit.
Barcelona may fancy an upgrade on Jules Kounde but the Frenchman's future won't be decided until after he gets back from the World Cup with France
Barcelona may fancy an upgrade on Jules Kounde but the Frenchman's future won't be decided until after he gets back from the World Cup with France(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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While Brus' article doesn't offer any update on the player's intentions - understandably, given his focus will be on France's World Cup campaign - Barcelona could feasibly be setting a price to gauge interest ahead of pushing the defender for a decision on his return to Catalonia.
Brus cites Barca's "desire to be careful when it comes to Financial Fair Play regulations" in the light of their previous financial woes, which he suggests could be the reason behind Kounde's availability.
Kounde's price tag was previously "closer to £65-70m", with the reduced figure suggesting a desire on the club's part to pursue a sale this summer.
Provided this report is accurate, it could present an opportunity for Liverpool to strengthen by signing a player who can cover two positions where the Reds need more bodies next season.
Brus reports Chelsea's previous interest in Kounde "hasn't gone away", but the Blues have since signed Marco Palestra from Atalanta. Liverpool's interest, according to Brus, "was never as concrete", but the Reds are "still there keeping an eye on developments".
Despite the mixed reliability of the outlet reporting this story, Kounde to Liverpool is a transfer that just makes sense - and could be one worth keeping an eye on as the summer progresses and the Reds - hopefully - box off their priority targets and switch their attention to other positions that need strengthening.
Virgil van Dijk "willing to talk" about shock exit
Rumours about a surprise early departure from Anfield for club captain Virgil van Dijk have circulated since a pair of Turkish outlets sensationally claimed earlier this week that the Dutchman had held talks with Galatasaray.
No top journalists have corroborated either these claims or the more recent ones, it must be clarified, but Serie A side AC Milan are now the latest club linked with the 34-year-old.
It would be unconscionable for Liverpool to allow van Dijk to leave this summer, but a plan must be in place for when the great centre-back eventually leaves
It would be unconscionable for Liverpool to allow van Dijk to leave this summer, but a plan must be in place for when the great centre-back eventually leaves(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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Luca Bianchin at La Gazzetta dello Sport kicked off the rumours on Wednesday, claiming that "the idea of [signing] van Dijk has reached [Gerry] Cardinale", the managing partner of RedBird Capital Partners, who own Milan and - importantly - a minority stake in Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's ownership.
According to Bianchin, "an internal evaluation of the matter is underway within RedBird" - but the reporter acknowledges the financial difficulty of meeting van Dijk's wage demands, suggesting that Goncalo Inacio could be a more realistic target.
Carlo Pellegatti (via MilanNews), a Milan-based reporter, added fuel to the fire on Thursday with apparent details of Milan's proposal. According to Pellegatti, van Dijk "is willing to discuss, talk; he's intrigued by the possibility."
Milan are suggested to be willing to pay €30-40m for van Dijk, even with a year left on his deal at Liverpool, but Pellegatti claims the Italian club would only be willing to offer €6-7m per year in salary payments for three years.
Leave Liverpool for a worse team on half his current salary? Sorry, Carlo, but I think that one's a non-starter. Come back next year when he's a free agent and maybe there's a conversation to be had - but until then, van Dijk is a Liverpool player and an exit this summer is unthinkable.
Liverpool credited with interest in Mexico star Mora
According to a report in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Wednesday, Liverpool are among "quite a few big clubs" interested in signing Mexico and Tijuana's youth sensation, Gilberto Mora.
Mora has made a splash at this summer's World Cup in his home country, starting two of their four games - including the round of 32 victory over Ecuador - despite being just 17 years old.
The Tijuana midfielder has already been compared to Andres Iniesta and became the youngest starter in a World Cup knockout game since Pele in 1958 on Wednesday, being substituted to a standing ovation in the Azteca.
It wouldn't be a World Cup without Liverpool being linked to pretty much every exciting debutant - and Gilberto Mora might be the most exciting of all
It wouldn't be a World Cup without Liverpool being linked to pretty much every exciting debutant - and Gilberto Mora might be the most exciting of all(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been named as clubs "vying for his services", but Mora is understood to want to stay put in Mexico until after his 18th birthday, which will arrive in October this year.
Standing at just 5'6", links with a move to the Premier League might be somewhat premature, but there is no denying Mora's potential and this should be the first of many World Cups for the wonderkid.
Links to El Mala met with scepticism
Said El Mala has been widely reported as a name on Liverpool's shortlist of wingers this summer, but doubts have been raised over the 19-year-old's readiness to play for a top Premier League club.
CaughtOffside's Mark Brus reported today that Liverpool are "still deciding whether or not to make a move" this summer or to keep tracking El Mala as one for the future, amid uncertainty about whether he would actually be able to secure a move to England given his family's unusual demands seemed to get in the way of a proposed transfer to Brentford.
There's no knocking his record - 13 Bundesliga goals from 20 starts last season - but Brus reports that Liverpool's preference is "to wait and move for him next summer," as the Reds "need to prioritise a top class attacking player who can come in and help them replace Mohamed Salah straight away."
Said El Mala is one of the most interesting names linked with Liverpool this summer, but experts are uncertain whether he'd make the grade
Said El Mala is one of the most interesting names linked with Liverpool this summer, but experts are uncertain whether he'd make the grade(Image: Getty Images)
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Likewise, Christian Falk gave his opinion for CF Bayern Insider (Bayern Munich have previously been linked with a move for El Mala) that Liverpool "is a step too high for this player at this stage in his development", urging restraint over comparisons to the quality of Yan Diomande.
Intriguingly, Falk did state his belief that El Mala "will make the step to the Premier League", but expressed his "doubts" over Liverpool being the right club for him to do that with.
With no reports of concrete interest in El Mala yet, it remains to be seen if Liverpool do turn to the promising young German if they are unable to secure their leading targets.
One for the optimists now: Falk also expressed his concern that "the Michael Olise situation is getting a little bit dangerous for Bayern." He did little to squash rumours that the French world-beater could be keen on a transfer elsewhere to pursue his dream of winning the Champions League, with Real Madrid seen to be a more realistic club to do that with.
We're not sure about that - Bayern looked like worthy finalists only to exit in the semis to eventual winners PSG - but Falk sensationally claimed he doesn't "see the France international signing a new contract at Bayern in the near future."
Liverpool are likely to be way off the pace in any race for Olise's situation at the moment, but could a deep Champions League run under Iraola convince Olise that Anfield is the destination for him?
We can always dream.
Khephren Thuram could be sold to fund Juve midfield revamp
Thuram is still being linked with Liverpool three years after the Reds chose to sign Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch instead
Thuram is still being linked with Liverpool three years after the Reds chose to sign Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch instead(Image: Getty Images)
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One-time Liverpool target Khephren Thuram has been linked with an exit from Juventus - and Liverpool could be among the clubs waiting to snap him up.
That's from Tuttosport, who detail that the Bianconeri are looking at signing Franck Kessie or Stanislav Lobotka. Either move would necessitate an exit from Juve's midfield ranks as a prerequisite and, according to the Italian outlet, Thuram could be the man to go.
Liverpool are said to have "inquired weeks ago" about signing the player they were previously reported to have considered in the summer of 2023, with PSG and Galatasaray also in the mix.
Apparently, Thuram will be allowed to go for any offer above €40m - a figure that seems strikingly low for a player who only narrowly missed out on France's World Cup squad.
Caution should be exercised here, though. Liverpool opted to sign Ryan Gravenberch instead of Thuram, a player who offers more of the same combination of breaking up play and progressive ball-carrying, and the Dutchman has just signed a new contract to keep him at Anfield until 2032.
Other reports
Sandro Tonali is set to complete a move to Spurs in a mega-transfer that could cost the north London club up to £100m (Sky Sports). We're not too sure what they saw in Tonali's performances last season to warrant that fee - or where all the money's come from all of a sudden, with Spurs having signed Mateus Fernandes for £85m already this week - and Newcastle fans' reaction (BBC Sport) to the Italian's exit could best be described with a shrug. Nevertheless, Spurs' midfield overhaul is bound to have some knock-on effects. Lucas Bergvall, unsurprisingly, has decided now is the time for a move elsewhere (Sky Sports) with Nottingham Forest "very interested" in signing the Swede over Curtis Jones, but Spurs have said he's going nowhere for now.
Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah will join a new club this summer - but expect Salah and agent Ramy Abbas to keep their cards close to their chests
Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah will join a new club this summer - but expect Salah and agent Ramy Abbas to keep their cards close to their chests(Image: Getty Images)
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Another Saudi Pro League club have been linked with Mo Salah, this time by Sacha Tavolieri for Sky Sport Switzerland. Al Ahli are the club in question as they hunt for a replacement for Riyad Mahrez, who reached an agreement with the Saudi side to terminate his contract early. Al Hilal were linked last week, with Salah naturally "one of the top priorities" for the league. Read our report on why the Saudi Pro League chief exec leaving his position could have a knock-on effect on the kingdom's push to attract the world's most famous Arab sportsman.
In a transfer link that smacks of Joe Allen following Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool, Marcus Tavernier has been exclusively "revealed" to be "on Liverpool's radar" by TEAMtalk. If it wasn't obvious, we're not convinced. According to the report, Aston Villa and Fulham have both made enquiries about his availability, while Newcastle "continue to monitor Tavernier closely." We're not sure if Newcastle's interest is the only reason Liverpool have been linked, but either way, it's a deal that doesn't seem likely to happen.
Reports of Middlesbrough interest in Stefan Bajcetic as a replacement for new Everton midfielder Hayden Hackney have been pooh-poohed by This Is Anfield, who understand "there is no interest from Middlesbrough in either a loan or permanent deal as it stands." Pretty emphatic then. They do go on to explain that the situation "could develop", though, pending Iraola's decision once he has had chance to assess his options this summer. Meanwhile, Luca Stephenson's move to Bolton has been confirmed (Sky Sports), and a whole host of academy players have departed on the expiry of their deals - including Oakley Cannonier, who famously rolled the ball to Trent Alexander-Arnold for the "Corner taken quickly... Origi!" goal against Barcelona in 2019.
And Newcastle look to have finally found their man to replace Anthony Gordon, after the deal to sign Victor Munoz was mercilessly hijacked by the Reds. That comes in the shape of Hoffenheim and Ivory Coast wide man Bazoumana Toure, who had previously been linked to - you guessed it - Liverpool. The Athletic report that a deal is in place, with the 20-year-old due on Tyneside for a medical. But when exclusively announcing the agreement, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards stressed "until it's done it's not done"... surely not another one?
Nonsense of the day
Normal service is resumed! Fichajes - the kings of the nonsense transfer rumour - have reclaimed their throne with another gasp-inducing number that took a couple of days to filter through to the English language gossip-scape.
This one involves Liverpool directly. According to our dear friends in Spain, Alexander Isak "has again emerged as a target in the transfer market" for Barcelona.
Apparently, Barca had Isak in their sights when he was still a Newcastle player, "but back then the move was out of reach." Now, of course, would be a completely different story - after moving to Liverpool less than a year ago for a British record transfer fee and signing a contract until 2031, he'd practically be a bargain signing.
Andoni Iraola will hope Isak has proved he's ready to compete after making four starts at the World Cup, scoring once and assisting three
Andoni Iraola will hope Isak has proved he's ready to compete after making four starts at the World Cup, scoring once and assisting three(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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There's no need for alarm with this one - obviously. Don't get me wrong, if Barcelona came in with an offer to match the £125m Liverpool paid, there might just be a conversation to be had given the nightmare debut season Isak suffered through last time out.
But Isak's Liverpool career has barely started and, short of somehow persuading Atletico Madrid to part with Julian Alvarez - which Barca haven't had any luck doing themselves - there aren't exactly any replacements screaming out on the market.
File this one under 'pigs might fly'.
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