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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Kyle Newbould

Liverpool 'interested' in Noah Okafor as 'possible' January transfer claim made

Liverpool are one of several clubs interested in Noah Okafor, according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, with a January move thought to be 'possible'.

Okafor has enjoyed an excellent first half of the season at RB Salzburg, scoring seven goals in the Austrian Bundesliga at a rate of 0.89 every 90 minutes and a further three in six Champions League appearances.

The 22-year-old is said to have caught the attention of Europe's top clubs, with Plettenberg naming the Reds alongside Manchester City and AC Milan - whom he scored against in Europe. Previously linked Manchester United have been ruled out or the running.

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The report stresses that no negotiations have begun between the Swiss international and any potential suitors, but a move in the January window could be possible with Salzburg out of the Champions League. The UEFA rule effectively cup-tying players who featured in the group stages from playing for another team in the knockouts was scrapped for the 2018/2019 campaign.

Plettenberg has suggested a potential price-tag of between €35-40million for the attacker, but that value is likely to rise with a strong six weeks at the World Cup - Okafor has been picked for Switzerland and will face Cameroon, Serbia and Brazil in Group G.

With a contract running until summer 2024, Salzburg have no obvious reason to sell one of their star players other than a quick financial injection after failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

The Austrian club decided to hang on to Brenden Aaronson last January amid interest from Leeds United after making it to the round-of-16, but are thought to have agreed a deal with the West Yorkshire club not long after they were knocked out by Bayern Munich.

Liverpool have also been linked with Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram recently amid reports that Jurgen Klopp is looking to find a successor to Roberto Firmino, although the Reds boss confirmed last weekend that talks are ongoing as to a possible extension of the 31-year-old's current deal, which runs out next summer.

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