Liverpool has plenty of work to do in the summer with players out of contract and out of favor. It could be a busy period for sporting director Richard Hughes and his head coach, Arne Slot.
As Premier League title winners elect, Liverpool is starting from a strong position. But there could still be a number of transfer needs that must be taken care of to ensure the promising beginning to a new era post-Jurgen Klopp continues.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today. Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak is once again on the agenda, but we start in Barcelona.
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Having been linked with Liverpool and other Premier League clubs sporadically across the course of almost his entire spell with Barcelona, Frenkie de Jong is once again cropping up on the rumor mill. According to the Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Reds and Chelsea are among the teams from England who are keen on him, and Barcelona would demand a deal worth around $70 million (£55 million).
De Jong has always insisted that he is happy at the Camp Nou, with the Catalan side having long been his favorite club. However, SPORT said earlier this year that Liverpool is interested in him and Mundo Deportivo has claimed a new contract for the Dutch midfielder has been pushed down the to-do list because of Barcelona’s financial situation.
Liverpool.com says: Turning 28 in a couple of months, it is easy to think of De Jong as a young player still, like what he was when he left Ajax. That was a while ago now, though. He could work as a Ryan Gravenberch alternative, but is probably now too old.
Alexander Isak (Newcastle United)
Liverpool has genuine interest in Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak in the summer — though it is far from the only club to admire the Sweden talisman. That is according to GiveMeSport.
It claims that a move for Isak is “gaining traction” ahead of the summer with Liverpool, Arsenal and others having been linked. The Reds are said to have a “confidence” that something might be possible.
Liverpool.com says: With Darwin Nunez having failed to ignite under Arne Slot, signing a new number nine should be a priority for Liverpool in the summer. Isak would cost close to double the Reds’ transfer record, however, and it is not certain that he will leave St James’ Park. He also doesn’t have a perfect injury history considering the fee that he will command.
