Liverpool linked with new midfielder as Jurgen Klopp…

Liverpool linked with new midfielder as Jurgen Klopp faces growing transfer question

Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Monday, August 8.

Liverpool plan ‘€40m bid' for new midfielder

Liverpool will launch a €40m bid for AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer in the coming days, according to a report.

Following the Reds' opening day draw at Marco Silva's Fulham on Saturday afternoon, where Thiago Alcantara became the latest member of Jurgen Klopp's squad to pull up with an injury , Liverpool are said to be ready to pursue a fourth signing of an already busy transfer window.

That's according to the Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb , who report that Bennacer, who is said to have a €50m release clause, can help solve Klopp's midfield injury crisis following a difficult few weeks for the club's medical department.

Thiago's suspected hamstring problem follows injuries to Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Naby Keita also missed the 2-2 draw with Fulham through illness.

Bennacer has spent three years at AC Milan since he made the €16m move from fellow Serie A side Empoli in the summer of 2019. The Algeria international has since gone on to make 103 appearances for the Rossoneri and claimed a Serie A winners' medal last season.

The Bennacer rumours, which emerged from Italy over the weekend, contradict reports from the English press this summer that claim Liverpool manager Klopp - who is said to be a huge fan of Borussia Dortmund prodigy Jude Bellingham - is holding out on until the summer of 2023 to bolster the options he currently has in midfield.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE .

Jurgen Klopp faces growing Liverpool transfer question

Jurgen Klopp may be forgiven for a sense of deja vu when he woke up on Sunday morning, writes Paul Gorst.

As he surveyed the fallout from Saturday's frustrating 2-2 draw with Fulham , the Reds boss may just feel as though he has been here before with regards to his particular set of circumstances. As recently as the start of 2021, in fact.

Back then, Klopp was besieged by injuries in his centre-back department and will have heard the clamour for Liverpool to rectify it in the transfer market. With Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all out for the season, the demands for fresh blood were as loud as they have ever been during his time at Anfield at the turn of last year.

Fast forward around 18 months and the Reds boss is once again hearing similar noises, this time with regards to his midfield. Just one game into the new campaign and Klopp is already counting the cost of mounting issues in his engine room.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's last kick of a ball in a Liverpool shirt came on July 15 when he pulled up injured after a tame shot at goal against Crystal Palace in Singapore. It's unclear when the former Arsenal man will be able to return but having not had any real pre-season schedule as a result of the setback, it may be some time before he is fully up to speed.

Curtis Jones was pictured in a protective boot at last week's 3-0 defeat to Strasbourg with Klopp referring to the calf issue as a "stress reaction" after his brief cameo in the Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Naby Keita's unavailability for the draw in west London was down to an illness that kept him out of training all week. It's the least of Klopp's injury concerns, admittedly, but the Guinea international's durability has always had question marks around it throughout an Anfield career that is into the final 12 months of a five-year contract.

And now to the latest problem in the centre of midfield. It is without doubt the most concerning in Thiago Alcantara. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich did not enjoy his best performance at Craven Cottage on Saturday but the majestic Spain star is integral to hopes this term.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE .

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here