The summer transfer window is heading towards a conclusion and Liverpool are still looking to sign new players
Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain pictured at Anfield
Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain pictured at Anfield(Image: PSG/PSG via Getty Images)
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The Premier League is now less than a week away. But for a certain number of supporters, there is a looming sadness as the transfer addicts realise the deadline is soon upon us.
Business officially opened for Premier League clubs on Monday, June 15 before the window is slammed shut - it's the law, we must describe it as thus - on Tuesday, September 1 at 11pm.
Clubs are running out of time to make their moves, then. Having splashed out almost £450million on new signings and seen close to £225m worth of talent depart last summer, the Reds have understandably not been quite so flash with the cash this time around.
But new head coach Andoni Iraola has pointed out work needs to be done if Liverpool are to once again bother those towards the top of the table.
On the way out
Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all departed on free transfers at the end of last season, along with Academy graduates Rhys Williams and James Balagizi.
The only player so far to have departed for money is Luca Stephenson, who joined Championship newcomers Bolton Wanderers for £700,000, while another midfielder, Tommy Pilling, has moved to Slovakian side MFK Zemplin Michalovce.
There is growing speculation over a number of senior players with barely a fortnight remaining in the window.
Curtis Jones continues to be a target for Inter Milan with Galatasaray also having previously shown interest. Liverpool want in excess of £30m for a player who is out of contract next summer, with Harvey Elliott in a similar contract position. Sunderland and Leeds United have been linked.
Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic, Virgil van Dijk, Calvin Ramsay and Alisson Becker are all similarly in the last 12 months of their present deals. Ramsay and Bajcetic could be allowed out on loan, but the remainder are expected to be important players for Iraola this season.
Talk of Alexis Mac Allister leaving - he is in the last two years of his contract - has quietened in recent weeks with the player now back at the AXA Training Centre following the World Cup. Cody Gakpo, meanwhile, has been a long-time target of Tottenham Hotspur although no interest has been made concrete as of yet.
Liverpool are busy moving a number of Academy players out on loan, with midfielder James McConnell understood to be close to joining Championship side Preston North End.
Ifeanyi Ndukwe, the 18-year-old centre-back who has made a huge breakthrough in pre-season after arriving from Austria Vienna for £2.6million, is ineligible to play for Liverpool competitively this year and is wanted on loan by clubs in Denmark, Portugal, Spain, Belgium and France.
Liverpool expect interest - both over a temporary or permanent move - in Lewis Koumas, who was close to joining Craig Bellamy at Burnley had the plug not been pulled on the Wales head coach's move to Turf Moor.
Keyrol Figueroa is being tracked on loan by a number of clubs including League One side Barnsley and League Two duo Salford City and Shrewsbury Town, while the Reds anticipate Jayden Danns will be in demand on his return to fitness later this month. Kornel Misciur, the 18-year-old Academy goalkeeper, has been the subject of expressions of interest by a number of non-league clubs.
Some loan deals have already been agreed. Armin Pecsi and midfielder Kyle Kelly will spend the campaign at Austrian side TSV Hartberg and National League team Forest Green Rovers respectively while defender Amara Nallo is at Finnish outfit HJK Helsinki for the rest of year.
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On the way in
Victor Munoz arrived in June when Liverpool triggered his £34.5m release clause at Osasuna while 21-year-old centre-back Jeremy Jacquet officially moved from Rennes after a £60m deal was agreed earlier in the year.
After Iraola made clear Liverpool were thin on defensive options, the Reds moved last week to sign Barcelona club captain Ronald Araujo on loan for the season with an option to buy for £47m.
The Reds are still seeking a winger having been willing to pay £86m for 19-year-old Yan Diomande only for RB Leipzig to want more than £100m and for it to emerge the player would prefer a move to Paris Saint-Germain before eventually joining Real Madrid.
Liverpool made an enquiry about Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche earlier in the summer with the player ultimately joining PSG, while the Reds were considering a move for Anthony Gordon before he joined Barcelona.
Brighton's Yanbuka Minteh, Said El Mala of Koln and Lille's Matias Fernandez-Pardo have also been looked at, but PSG attacked Bradley Barcola has emerged as the clear priority with talks having taken place over a deal. Barcola is understood to be keen, but Liverpool would need PSG to budge from their valuation of at least £130m for the player.
While Liverpool are open to a further arrival in attack and a new midfield option, much will depend on whether any current senior squad members are moved on.
The Reds have also been working on bolstering their Academy options, with 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder Samuel Martinez completing a £750,000 deal that will see him move next summer, while there have been a number of arrivals in the lower Academy age groups.