The Independent have confirmed some major Liverpool transfer news.
Melissa Reddy is a respected journalist with some excellent contacts inside the club, and she wrote about the potential deal on Tuesday night.
Liverpool are going to be fishing in a smaller pond this season, but that doesn’t always bother sporting director Michael Edwards or manager Jurgen Klopp. They’re not afraid to pick up cheap players when they can, and there have been plenty of cut-price deals to be had.
Aissa Mandi is one of them and could cost just £10.8 million. Greek defender Konstantinos Tsimikas could also be a value addition to the squad – but he’s not the direct Liverpool are going to go in.
According to Reddy and the Independent, Norwich City star Jamal Lewis is wanted by the club and they are prepared to spend up to £10 million to make him Andy Robertson’s back-up.
This is one area of the field in which the team has been calling out for reinforcements ever since Alberto Moreno left at the end of his contract, and would represent a major piece of business.
James Milner would certainly be thrilled if the youngster was signed, and it would free him up from his left-back duties. This deal wouldn’t be major in terms of price, but in terms of squad building and planning it’s a serious move.
The report did state that Jamal Lewis is slightly concerned about his potential game time, and understandable worry given how important Robertson is to the unit. However, he shares representation with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robbo, which could smooth negotiations.
Klopp believes he can take the Canary to the next level, wrote Reddy, but Liverpool are going to have to worry about competition from elsewhere. That implies they need to move quickly to secure their man or face missing out on another top target.
Can the club get this deal over the line? It would certainly be an excellent way to kick off their dealings as we head into the new season.