Liverpool: The best and worse transfer rumours this week

Liverpool are not going to be quiet in the transfer market.

The summer transfer window is heating up and the rumor mill is chugging along fast and furious. There have already been some devilishly wicked speculations being bandied about. Some of these are just fanciful daydreaming, others are just pure unadulterated bool sheet.

Mohamed Salah, for example, falling afoul of pundits and speculative media, who are claiming that Salah is so disillusioned with disappointment at the sale of friend and teammate Dejan Lovern, that he now will want a transfer this summer.

Ha! Such balderdash! Do you really believe Liverpool’s transfer committee and Jurgen Klopp would entertain that sale of that player without first testing the waters regarding Mo?

While this makes for some great reading for non Liverpool fans, it is so far removed from reality to be absolutely ludicrous on it’s face. This rumor was started and propagated by Liverpool haters and naysayers who would like nothing more than to create division within the team.

Indeed, these folks have been trying for three years running to split up the dreaded Liverpool lethal triumvirate of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, and Mo. This should be viewed as the highest form of compliment, as this illuminates how fearful other teams fans and pundits are regarding the prized trio.

Moving on, there has been some talk regarding Jan Vertonghen being brought on as a free transfer from Spurs. This makes a good bit of sense, if we are talking about a one or two season contract.

Vertonghen is a proven entity at center-back, and he is comfortable at left-back as well. While he is a bit long in the tooth as they say, if the price is affordable for Liverpool this could give them another season to develop young defensive talent coming through the youth system.

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Jerome Boateng is another possibility, as he has been toying with a transfer to England for the past two seasons. He also might be had fairly cheap. Again age is the restricting factor, as he has clearly lost a step and a half in these past few years.

I feel Nathan Ake is a good defender, in Klopp’s style, and he is a threat going forward into the offensive attack. Liverpool should look into his availability and the cost.

Liverpool have been slated to continue selling fringe and excess baggage in the player department. Harry Wilson, now 26, is a likely sale candidate. And there will be teams looking to pounce with Bournemouth being relegated.

Look for Xherdan Shaqiri to be sold, with some reported interest from Turkey. Marco Grujic, on loan to Hertha Berlin, is also another possible sale candidate this summer. Hertha would like to keep him from what I’ve heard from the grumblings in the Bundesliga.

Loris Karius will be offloaded at some point, as Adrian is the go to guy to sub Allison Becker between the sticks.

The Reds have some specific needs that need to be addressed and cannot wait ’til the winter window, or even worse, next summer. Liverpool can ill afford to remain stagnant, just treading water while Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City continue to spend like kids in the candy store.

We need a replacement for Lovern, and a sub for Andy Robertson must be in the back of Klopp’s mind. To the midfield, a strong attacking midfielder is still a pressing issue for the Reds as they still have not fielded a replacement for Philip Coutinho.

It may be, the gaffer is thinking of filling this role with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, and Naby Keita? Ox’s natural position is in the midfield, he is out of his element by being played out wide in a winger role.

Perhaps most difficult to deal with are clinically competent finishers to play up top for the much lauded trio. These candidates must be willing to grab some pine on the bench for long stretches, only subbing on in second half or late match situations.

dark. Next. Gérard Houllier’s 40 Liverpool signings ranked and rated – who’s the worst?

This is an ongoing story so check back for updates as the transfer window takes shape between now and the middle of September when the new campaign is slated to get under way.