Liverpool and Newcastle United in talks over Jonathan Tah deal

Liverpool and Newcastle United have reportedly been in talks over a potential transfer for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.

The centre-back has been at Leverkusen since 2015 and has made 284 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing eleven assists.

Despite a deal with the Bundesliga club until June 2025, Tah has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest were reportedly keen to secure his services in the January transfer window but Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso was reluctant to part ways with the 27-year-old midway through the season.

Although a transfer did not materialize during the winter transfer window, Tah is said to be keen to complete his spell in the English top flight. According to 90min, Liverpool and Newcastle are both interested in signing the German and have also spoken to intermediaries about the potential of a move in January.

With a deal he failed to finalize last month, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool and Newcastle will revisit the situation in the summer.

Jürgen Klopp has the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in his defensive ranks, but Joel Matip’s future at the club looks questionable.

A recent report claimed Liverpool have put a £15m price tag on Matip, and if the veteran player leaves in the summer, Tah could be considered as a potential replacement.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have the best defensive record in the Premier League after just 13 goals in 22 games, but with European football on the horizon, they may be keen to add more strength. Tah is also attracting interest from West Ham United, who are looking to bolster their defense after Craig Dawson joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in January.

Tottenham Hotspur discussed Tah with Leverkusen officials last month, but they have reportedly prioritized a transfer for his central defending partner Piero Hincapie.

Tah has started 17 of 20 league games for Leverkusen this season, including Saturday’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim.

Also…

Liverpool tag 6ft 4in goalkeeper to challenge Alisson for first team place

Liverpool tag 6ft 4in goalkeeper to challenge Alisson for first team place

Alisson has been Liverpool’s first choice goalkeeper since his move from Roma in the summer of 2018 and Jurgen Klopp is keen to give the Brazilian more competition

Liverpool are interested in signing Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to compete with current number 1 Alisson for next season.

The Reds are 10 in the table – 12 points behind fourth-placed Newcastle with two games in hand having lost seven of their opening 20 league games. Jürgen Klopp’s side have scored 28 goals this season, the same number as relegation contenders and local rivals Everton.

Verbruggen, 20, is 1.88m tall and joined the Anderlecht squad in early 2023, after which he made his number 1 position his own. The Dutch youth international has conceded just four goals in his last seven games in Belgium, including four clean sheets. According to The Sun, these impressive stats convinced Klopp to show interest in Verbruggen. Liverpool fear Alisson’s current replacement Caoimhin Kelleher, 24, will leave Anfield in the summer to play regularly for the first team.

Liverpool also employ Adrian, but the 36-year-old is due in June and has often proved unreliable in his cap. He was signed by West Ham in August 2019 as a replacement for Alisson but has slipped behind Kelleher in the pecking order.

Liverpool are believed to wait to see if Kelleher leaves Merseyside before moving to Verbruggen. But the Reds are said to be worried about waiting too long for the youngster as other top clubs are likely to be interested in him.

There is also a good chance that Verbruggen’s value will increase if he continues to play in Belgium. According to Transfermarkt, the Dutch stopper is valued at £750,000 – but he has two and a half years left on his contract and Anderlecht will demand a decent fee.

Alisson is expected to be Liverpool’s No.1 goalkeeper next season. The 30-year-old, who has won the Premier League title and Champions League since joining from Roma in the summer of 2018, has four and a half years left on his contract. Alisson signed a new long-term deal in August 2021 and is expected to be part of the Anfield furniture set for many years to come. But Klopp doesn’t want the Brazilian international to rest on his laurels and signing another impressive stopper will keep him on his toes.

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There’s also a good chance that Verbruggen’s value will increase if he continues to perform in Belgium. According to Transfermarkt, the Dutch stopper is worth £750,000, but he still has two and a half years left and Anderlecht will ask for a hefty fee. Alisson is expected to become Liverpool’s number 1 goalkeeper next season. The 30-year-old, who has won the Premier League and Champions League since moving from AS Roma in the summer of 2018, still has four-and-a-half years left on his contract.

Alisson signed a new long-term deal in August 2021 and is expected to be part of the Anfield furniture set for many years to come. But Klopp doesn’t want the Brazilian international to rest on his laurels and signing another impressive stopper will keep him on his toes.

Liverpool have taken just one point from their last four league games, having been beaten 3-0 by Wolves in their last appearance. Alisson was furious with his teammates after the last game. “I don’t know what has to happen to us to wake us up,” he said.