Liverpool transfer news round-up: Luis Diaz ‘lie’, Kylian Mbappe’s future, Mason Mount’s stance
Liverpool transfer news, rumors, gossip and speculation including updates on Luis Diaz, Kylian Mbappé, Mason Mount, Nicolo Barella, Thiago Alcantara and Rafael Leao
Virgil van Dijk was able to celebrate last night after being voted into the FIFA FIFPRO Best Awards Men’s World XI. It may be Liverpool’s only win all season but the Dutchman will take it.
Jürgen Klopp is expected to shake up his squad in the summer and that includes some departures. News in Europe suggests that Thiago Alcantara could be transferred to Milan and that Real Madrid are interested in Stefan Bajcetic. Would Klopp let either player leave at the end of the season? We also have Klopp’s pre-match press conference today as Liverpool prepare to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Wednesday night. Let’s hope there is good news about Luis Diaz’s condition.
Prolonged break
Fulham’s progress in the FA Cup means Liverpool’s last game in March will be against Real Madrid on the 15th. They face Man City on April 1.
Josko Gvardiol followed him
Ben Jacobs told CBS Sport Josko Gvardiol is being followed by Liverpool ahead of a possible summer move. “Liverpool are following Josko Gvardiol from Leipzig. I have been told that Gvardiol wants to move to the Premier League. It is also common ground that he says Liverpool are his ‘dream club’ as he watched many of their matches as a youngster.”
This would be a great asset to the Reds!
Good news for Liverpool
Ben Jacobs wrote in his exclusive weekly column for CaughtOffside.
“Liverpool are following Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, with whom Chelsea almost finalized a deal last summer,” Jacobs said.
The Croatian scored against Manchester City in the Champions League and is attracting a lot of interest, including from Pep Guardiola’s team, Real Madrid and PSG. There is a £98m buyout clause, but it won’t become active until the summer of 2024.
“I have been told that Gvardiol wants a move to the Premier League and that the idea that he has been ‘picked’ by Real is incorrect. It is also common ground that he says Liverpool are his ‘dream club’ because he has played so many of the their games with his father when he was younger.’
Voices by Luis Diaz
and discussed rumors about Luis Diaz’s future at Liverpool after speculation emerged about a swap deal with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.
Sierra spoke to Diaz’s entourage and they labeled the rumor a “lie”.
Kylian Mbappé update
Kylian Mbappé could leave PSG in the summer, L’Equipe recently claimed, but he may not be Real Madrid finishing off the French superstar. Mbappe came close to joining Madrid in 2021 but shocked everyone by signing a short-term contract to stay in Paris. It’s almost certain that the Spanish champions will eventually come back for the Frenchman but it could be against his mother’s wishes.
Mbappe’s mother showed her admiration for Liverpool in an interview with the Telegraph last summer when she also admitted to meeting the Reds to discuss her son’s future as a Monaco player.
Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé told Ladbrokes FanZone: “I really, really want to see Kylian Mbappe at Liverpool. I would love to see him at Anfield. In this team, he would do so much damage. I know his mother likes Liverpool but the boy likes Real Madrid so he knows where he will end up.
“But I want to dream of seeing him at Liverpool… and they say mums are never wrong, so maybe we’ll see him in a Liverpool shirt soon!”
Wolves boss against Liverpool
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui has spoken out about the challenge of meeting Liverpool, with the sides meeting again tomorrow night at Anfield.
They play the same way at home or away, but Anfield’s difficulties are obvious, it’s a stadium where they push a lot. I saw in the last game against Real Madrid there, I thought they played a fantastic first half in my opinion and they deserved a lot more, but that’s football.
“I’m sure tomorrow we’ll find a good team and a good environment and we have to be ready. We’ll try to play the same way, obviously it’s not like home, but we’ll try.”
Liverpool target Independiente Santa Fe star
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Liverpool are targeting Independiente Santa Fe defender Kevin Mantilla and are ‘ready’ to make an offer.
The 19-year-old is seen as a talented youngster in South America and the Reds are expected to be in contention for Mantilla along with Torino, PAOK and FC Porto.
The report adds: “Jurgen Klopp’s side are ‘ready’ to offer €4m to secure the defender’s signature, but Independiente Santa Fe are ‘demanding more’.”
Liverpool hit a record profit as a £107million rise in new club accounts was confirmed
Liverpool returned to profitability for the first time since the 2018/19 financial year, with the club taking its revenue to a record £594million.
The Reds’ latest accounts for the year ending May 2022, released today, show the club increased revenue by £107million in the last financial year, posting a pre-tax profit of £7.5million of pounds sterling. The results included the first full year after the pandemic with match receipts returning to pre-Covid levels as fans were back in stadiums and saw a jump of £83m from £3m in 2020 /21 to £86m.
Wages reached £366m, up £54m from £314m last season. Seven new players were signed, including Luis Diaz and Fabio Carvalho, while 22 players received extensions, including Jordan Henderson, Harvey Elliott, Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson, Alisson Becker, Stefan Bajcetic and Diogo Jota. The extension of Mohamed Salah’s contract came outside the 2021/22 reference period.
Liverpool ‘excited’ about Mason Mount as Chelsea plan overhaul
Liverpool remain “excited” for Chelsea and England star Mason Mount and could make a move for the midfielder as Chelsea look to balance the score this summer.
Having spent more than £600m under new owner Todd Boehly, Graham Potter has more than 25 first-team players and could be forced to part ways with large numbers in the summer to comply with strict financial fair play rules.
The Londoners are currently closer to the relegation zone than Champions League places and could therefore be forced to part ways with a number of stars if they lose European football’s finances.
John Cross wrote in the Mirror: “Liverpool are very keen on English star Mount as Jurgen Klopp plans a major overhaul of his Anfield squad this summer. The 24-year-old Mount will have no shortage of suitors but Liverpool look set to be in pole position and although Chelsea have not given up on keeping him, he could struggle to match the wages offered elsewhere. “Chelsea have undergone an overhaul to their pay structure as they now offer longer contracts but with less basic terms which has helped them sign big deals such as Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk for huge fees but still in line with FFP.”
Real Madrid eye Stefan Bajcetic
Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing a move by Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic with chairman Florentino Perez, a big fan of the 17-year-old.
The Spaniard made his first-team debut for the Reds in August and has since gone from strength to strength under Jurgen Klopp this season, most recently starting in the round of 16 against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
According to Fichajes, Perez has “set his sights” on the midfielder and has “closely followed” his performances at Anfield this season.
However, Bajcetic signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Merseyside last month.
Real Madrid eye Stefan Bajcetic
Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing a move by Liverpool youngster Stefan Bajcetic with chairman Florentino Perez, a big fan of the 17-year-old. The Spaniard made his first-team debut for the Reds in August and has since gone from strength to strength under Jurgen Klopp this season, most recently starting in the round of 16 against Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
According to Fichajes, Perez has ‘set his sights on’ the midfielder and has ‘closely followed’ his performances at Anfield this season.
However, Bajcetic signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Merseyside last month.
Sadio Mane receives the applause
Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane finished sixth in the men’s FIFA Best Voting Awards last night.
Mane, who joined Bayern Munich this summer after six trophy-filled years at Anfield, was named in the top three by Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Hary Kane. earned?
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah finished in 14th place.