There are just a couple of days until the transfer window officially opens. But Liverpool has already made a head-start on its summer rebuild.
The Reds of course completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister last week. The midfielder signed a five-year deal as he made what is reported to have been a $44m (£35m/€41m), as per BBC Sport.
But as another week begins, Jürgen Klopp and new sporting director Jörg Schmadtke still have plenty more work to do in order to get Liverpool ready for the 2023/24 season. More signings must follow once that window opens.
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Midfield no doubt remains a top priority. But the Reds will also need to bolster their defense following what was a disappointing campaign on all fronts.
To that end, Liverpool is being linked with two defenders in the most recent transfer reports across Europe. One of those options could see the Reds go after a new target plying his trade in Italy, although another potential opportunity may have just ruled himself out of the running.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.
Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting CP)
Sporting CP defender Gonçalo Inácio prefers a move to Manchester United over Liverpool this summer, according to O Jogo (via the Evening Standard).
Having secured its first signing in Alexis Mac Allister last week, Liverpool will now turn its attention to its next priority in the transfer window. While the midfield is still in need of reinforcements, the defense could also do with at least one more new face, with Inácio having been touted as a possible option.
The report coming out of Portugal though suggests the 21-year-old favors a move to Old Trafford over Anfield, with Newcastle not considered an attractive option. Recent reports also suggested contract talks at his current club had been frozen as Sporting looks to increase his release clause from $48m (£38m/€45m) to $64m (£51m/€60m).
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Liverpool.com says: Even though Jürgen Klopp doesn’t necessarily see the lack of Champions League football as a huge hurdle to overcome this summer, there’s no doubt it will be a factor to some players, particularly if, as in this instance, Manchester United is also in the picture.
Should that be the case for Inácio, then Liverpool will no doubt move on to another target. Klopp has already said he doesn’t want that to be the deciding factor in a player’s decision, and he’ll no doubt have other options more willing to make the move to Anfield. Speaking of which…
Perr Schuurs (Torino)
Liverpool has listed Torino defender Perr Schuurs as a potential transfer target, according to Caught Offside.
With the Reds on the hunt for a new defender, and the ECHO suggesting that if not this summer, a new center-back will arrive in the next year or so, Jörg Schmadtke will no doubt be drawing up a list of candidates to compete with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté.
As such, Caught Offside suggests that Schuurs is being considered. Juventus is also said to be interested, with Torino ready to start negotiations at around $22m (£17m/€20m) to $27m (£21m/€25m).
Liverpool.com says: Schmadtke likely already has a list of names written up that Liverpool will be considering in various positions over the summer. Given the problems the Reds had at the back in 2022/23 though, center-back has to be one of the next priorities.
If Torino is willing to start at around the mark reported, he could prove to be another bargain this summer. Plenty of teams need to make several signings at the moment, so finding those bargains will become harder and harder.