It is crystal clear to everyone that Liverpool will sign a winger this summer, but it remains to be seen who that will be.
In a press conference in Chicago on Tuesday, new head coach Andoni Iraola asserted that the Reds "definitely need to sign a winger", with Mohamed Salah's departure and Hugo Ektikié's injury leaving him light on forward options. Well, is a potential target set to slip away?
As reported by Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Tottenham Hotspur have "contacted Benfica" as they pursue a move for winger Andreas Schjelderup.
In the meantime, James Holland of Team Talk adds that Tottenham Hotspur are leading the race for the Norwegian's signature, ahead of Liverpool.
The Portuguese giants have warned all suitors that Schjelderup's "price tag has doubled in recent months", currently valued at around £68 million. So, would Liverpool be missing out on a top class player, if indeed he does end up in North London?
How good is Liverpool target Andreas Schjelderup?
Norway lead through Andreas Schjelderup 🇳🇴
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 11, 2026
Only he will know if he meant it... pic.twitter.com/BWSZLqoyMC
22 year old Schjelderup has been with Benfica since January 2023, joining from Danish talent factory Nordsjælland for a reported fee of €14 million. Last season was certainly his most productive since landing in Lisbon, scoring seven goals and registering six assists in the Primeira Liga, as well as bagging a brace during a Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Estádio da Luz.
At international level, he scored his first goal for Norway during a friendly against Netherlands at the Johan Cruijff Arena in March, before featuring in all six of the Lions' World Cup matches this summer. He assisted both of Erling Braut Håland's goals during the famous 2-0 victory over Brazil in New Jersey, before opening the scoring in the quarter-finals in Miami, no one knows if he truly meant it, as Ståle Solbakken's side were narrowly ousted by England after extra time.
Thus, Schjelderup is clearly a talented player, albeit the price tag slapped on him does seem extremely steep. He also has spent the overwhelming majority of his career operating from the left side, when Liverpool really need someone to fill Salah's void on the right first and foremost, so perhaps they would be wise to steer clear of this deal.
Which other wingers could Liverpool target
The two wingers most strongly linked with a move to Merseyside continue to be Yan Diomandé and Bradley Barcola. However, neither deal will be straight forward to get over the line. The Côte d'Ivoire international has made it clear that he only wants to leave RB Leipzig for Paris Saint-Germain, valued at around €100 million by the Bundesliga side.
Meantime, PSG are reluctant to listen for offers for Barcola, only willing to do so if they manage to sign Diomandé and Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco, who is also a player on the Reds' radar. Rayan from Bournemouth is another purported target but, after making an enormous amount of money last year, and qualifying for the Europa League, the Cherries are under no pressure at all to sell any of their most prized assets.
Thus, Liverpool's search for a new wide attacker may go on, but Schjelderup does not appear to be the answer.
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