Liverpool transfer news: Balotelli finally leaves for free

Liverpool transfer news: Sturridge future depends on Higuain

14 March

Liverpool are set for a thrashing this week but it's got nothing to do with their Europa League second leg clash with Manchester United. Rather it concerns Piotr Zielinski, with the Daily Mail reporting that Reds officials "are set to meet with Udinese this week to thrash out a deal for the midfielder".

The 21-year-old Zielinski has caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp during a two-season loan at Empoli and he has had his scouts watch the Poland international in action on several occasions. According to the Mail, Zielinski can play on the wing or as a central midfielder and Klopp admires "his high energy style and believes it can fit into his Liverpool squad".

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Meanwhile Metro says that Liverpool sharpshooter Daniel Sturridge has "emerged as a transfer target for Napoli". The injury-prone England frontman has been scouted by the Italian giants recently and the Serie A club are reportedly unconcerned by Sturridge's reputation for injuries.

Metro predicts that Napoli will "attempt to sign the 26-year-old at the end of the season with funds from the likely departure of Gonzalo Higuain". He's been linked with a host of English clubs - including Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs - and it looks like Napoli will replace him with Sturridge, provided they meet Liverpool's asking price of £20m.

Liverpool also have a battle on their hands when it comes to Jordan Henderson, reports The Sun. The paper says Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wants to bring the midfielder to White Hart Lane to ensure that manager Mauricio Pochettino is happy with his midfield options next season.

The high-flying Londoners are said to be preparing a bid of £25m for the England midfielder.

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp eyes Erking and Hector

11 March

Fresh from flattening Manchester United in the Europa League Liverpool are gearing up for another fight, this time for the hand of Fenerbahce defender Caner Erkin with Talksport claiming that Stoke and Inter Milan are ready to challenge the Reds for the 27-year-old full-back.

Erkin is out of contract this summer and Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp has put him on his shopping list, as have Inter Milan who are reportedly "keeping close tabs" on Erkin's situation in Turkey.

But Italian rag Corriere dello Sport says Inter have been informed that it's not just Liverpool who are circling Erkin, but also Stoke, who will table a big money offer for the strapping defender in the summer.

If the Reds do miss out on Erkin, might they settle for Jonas Hector instead? They were first linked with the Cologne left-back last month, and Metro says Jurgen Klopp has stepped up his interest "given Alberto Moreno's struggles" of late.

The 25-year-old Germany international, who Klopp knows well from his time in charge of Borussia Dortmund, has the right level of experience to add some ballast to the Liverpool back four.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds face fight for Mario Gotze

10 March

There's a hijacking on the horizon and this time it's Juventus who are ready to grab the wheel from Liverpool as Talksport reports that the Italian champs are poised to muscle in on the Reds plans to sign Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich.

It's an open secret that the 23-year-old playmaker is not prospering at Bayern Munich and wants more regular game time, which is just what he has been promised at Anfield by his former boss Jurgen Klopp. But Juventus are offering the same thing, at least that's what media outlet Tuttosport claims.

Juventus have identified Gotze as the man to replace Paul Pogba, who is tipped to join either Manchester City or Chelsea this summer. And there is more trouble on the horizon as Metro picks up on reports in Germany that suggest Manchester United are "keen to sign" Gotze in the summer with Louis van Gaal said to be a fan.

But there is hope for the Reds says Talksport, as it notes that Klopp could win out because of his connection with the midfielder. The pair worked together at Borussia Dortmund and the Liverpool boss is quietly confident that he will be able to prise Gotze from Bayern.

Finally, the Daily Mail reports that Pedro Chirivella has been rewarded for his fine form this season with a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2020.

The 18-year-old defensive midfielder, who joined from Valencia's academy in 2013, is in the squad for tonight's Europa League clash against Manchester United, and on signing the new deal, Chirivella said: "It feels really good. I have worked really hard in the last year. I'm very proud to sign a new contract with one of the best teams in Europe."

Liverpool transfer news: Klopp targets Empoli duo Piotr Zielinski and Leandro Paredes

08 March

With Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly ready to receive a £100m war chest from the club's owners in the summer, speculation is rife as to who he might bring to Anfield.

According to The Sun, Klopp has identified a couple of unlikely lads as prime targets, namely the Empoli pair of Piotr Zielinski and Leandro Paredes.

The Italian outfit travelled to Genova last week, as did Liverpool scouts, and they had a keen eye on Polish winger Zielinski and Argentine midfielder Paredes. Though Empoli slipped to a 1-0 defeat, the Sun claims that the duo did themselves no harm and are likely to be targeted by Klopp in the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile the latest club to be linked to Liverpool's underperforming Christian Benteke is West Ham United. Last week rumours suggested the struggling frontman could be on Arsenal's radar, but according to the Daily Star the Hammers are interested in the former Aston Villa ace, despite the fact he's failed to fire since moving to Anfield last year in a £32m switch.

Liverpool transfer news: £100m spree to include new keeper

07 March

Jurgen Klopp will have to make some space in his office at Anfield for the "£100m war chest" that he will be presented with this summer by Fenway Sports Group.

The Liverpool owners are determined to turn the club into genuine title contenders and according to The Sun, Klopp will be given the keys to the war chest and told to make Liverpool great once again.

So who might he have in mind as summer purchases? The Sun says the Liverpool gaffer is gagging for a more reliable goalkeeper than the inconsistent incumbent Simon Mignolet and he has in his sights Jack Butland of Stoke City and Southampton stopper Fraser Forster.

As far as outfield players go, Klopp is tailing Bayern Munich's Mario Goetze and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund, although Manchester United are in pole position to land the latter.

One player Liverpool are likely to miss out on is Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye. The Brentford Gazette steals a march on the national papers with its claim that West Ham are "planning to hijack Liverpool's £15m move for the France international". The 30-year-old Cabaye joined Palace last summer from Paris Saint-Germain and according to the Brenford Gazette he has grown "frustrated" at Selhurst Park and would relish a move across the capital, particularly as the Hammers could qualify for Champions League football next season.

Palace are willing to talk to West Ham with the Gazette claiming the Eagles will insist "on a player-plus-cash deal" with Michail Antonio likely to be the player sacrificed by Hammers boss Slaven Bilic.

Liverpool transfer news: Reds face Teixeira exit riddle

04 March

Who knows what the future holds for Liverpool winger Joao Teixeira, whose plans appear to be causing confusion in the media.

The 23-year-old midfielder gave an interview to Portuguese website Noticias O Minuto and his words have been interpreted in very different ways.

Metro's take on the 23-year-old midfielder's comments is that they reveal a wish to leave Anfield, while the Daily Star believes they prove that he "intends to stay at Liverpool".

So what exactly did Teixeira say when asked about recent rumours linking him with a return to Sporting Lisbon?

"I don't know, at the moment, I don't know," he replied. "You can't close the door in any direction. At the moment, if I had an opportunity, I'd think about it."

Hardly a ringing endorsement of Liverpool, the club he joined in 2013, although perhaps realising this, the Portuguese playmkaker added: "Now I intend to stay at Liverpool."

There have also been stories linking Teixeira with Italian outfit Fiorentina although ESPN reports that he has "has not agreed a deal with any interested parties".

Meanwhile, the Reds are rumoured to be plotting to ruin Manchester United's pursuit of Algerian star Sofiane Feghouli. The Valencia winger was tipped to be heading to Old Trafford, but despite the fact tha Valencia are now managed by Old Trafford old-boy Gary Neville, the Daily Express says the Reds could nip in at the last minute.

Liverpool transfer news: Koybasi and Chilwell on the radar

3 March

Liverpool have identified Besiktas full-back Ismail Koybasi as the man to solve their left-sided problem, with Talksport reporting that the Reds have sent their sharpest-eyed scouts to Turkey to run the rule over the 26-year-old.

Koybasi is out of contract at the end of the season, and the fact he'll be a free agent hasn't escaped the notice of Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp. Talksport report that the Reds "are considering offering him a deal" with Klopp convinced that the tough-tackling Turkey international would be an important addition to his squad next season.

So too might be Karim Bellarabi with the Manchester Evening News claiming that Liverpool are eyeing the Bayer Leverkusen winger. The MEN quotes Italian media outlet Calciomercatoweb as its source but it apparently believes the rumours linking the Reds with the German international.

In terms of cost, Liverpool would need to grease Leverkusen's palm to the tune of £15m, bearing in mind he's contracted to them until 2020. In the past Manchester United and Arsenal have been reported as expressing an interested in Bellarabi but Liverpool are now "favourites should he decide on a move."

And Liverpool will also have to fight Arsenal for the hand of Leicester left-back Ben Chigwell, who represents an alternative to Koybasi. According to the Daily Star the clubs "are set to lock horns" for the player this summer after their scouts returned favourable reports to their respective managers.

The Star says that Arsenal failed in a £4m bid for Chigwell in January but they'll be back in the summer with a higher bid. But Liverpool are also circling with the Star claiming that Jurgen Klopp wants the Foxes defender to replace Jose Enrique,who "won't be offered fresh terms".